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Certainly wouldn't be unusual. I gave my mom prescribed sleeping pills. The patient and the caretaker need rest. Frankly, rest is more critical for the caregiver. If the pills aren't working, the caretaker should be communicating that fact to the doctor -- AFTER, in my opinion, having tried them for a full week.
I have learned that there are various medications that may be tried to help dementia patients who have sleep issues. Certainly, they should be prescribed by her doctor. I wouldn't attempt to treat a sleeping problem with over the counter meds, unless the doctor suggested it.
Well, according to a lot of doctors, NOBODY should be given a sleeping pill! I wouldn't try over-the-counter meds without a doctor's supervision. But helping a person with dementia sleep through the night can be a critical part of whether they can remain at home with caregivers. So ... I think the best thing would be to work on this problem with her doctor. If the current pills are not helping her sleep, there is no reason to continue them, I would think.
Why can't this person sleep? Is she agitated? Needing to pee every hour? Fearful? Having awful dreams? She sleeps all day? I think narrowing down some possible causes would help the doctor make recommendations.
In her earliest merory loss stage, my mom was taking ambien. She was taking it probably for a couple of years. she told me many times that it really worked but only for four hours so she would have to wake up and take more. During that whole time, I never spent a night with her under the same roof since we lived only one mile away.
Then we went on a three-month vacation together.
I couldn't believe it. My mom got up int he night, spoke in gibberish, went to the kitchen and ate food (very common apparently). One night she dropped cake in the middle of the living room floor.
Ironically, the very next day I overeard someone say something about ambien. I went to the computer and googled "problems with Ambien," and oh boy, what stories I found.
I confronted my mom, wrote to her doctor, and she never took ambien again.
I would always advise googling about the drug and "problems with" before trying it.
My husband just started on sleeping pills last Saturday night. So he has had them for three nights. I was starting to be sleep deprived. If he doesn't sleep, I don't sleep. So far so good. He still wakes up bright and early at 6:30AM. Ready to go.
We started using mirtazapine about 6 months ago to help my mother sleep at night and I have been very pleased with the results, it also reduced her anxiety during the day. Others on this site have been prescribe trazodone, another type of anti depressant with similar results. Neither are sleeping pills, but produce the desired results.
Trazodone was prescribed by my VA nurse. I hope it works. He was awake longer than I expected last night. But after he got to sleep, he did sleep through the night.
My father's on trazodone and doesn't seem to have issues with sleeping except last night. He's been on it for two years. Personally, I took a few different kinds of sleeping pills in 2010. Ambien put me out at first, and then I'd wake up an hour later with my heart racing, scared, bolt upright, and confused. It was worse than no sleep. The doctor said to try it again, and at some point, it stopped putting me out and just made me freak out. It turned out I was stuck in a panic attack (long story), and anxiety meds eventually allowed me to sleep.
Perfect timing with this question! Husband wanders throughout the house at night. I, as his spouse and only caregiver, is exhausted. Talked to spouse's doctor about prescribing a sleeping pill, however, the doctor would not. Said, it was his experience prescribing sleeping pills to dementia patient's would make them susceptible to falls and injuries. It's getting worse---not only does spouse walk about at night banging doors, opening and closing closets and cabinets, walking up and down the steps, waking me to ask if I am okay (at 2am) his latest "midnight shift duty" is emptying our 2 cat's food bowls and throwing the food out onto the garage floor. One morning I awoke to find every measuring cup, including spoons, filled with Diet Pepsi lined up on the kitchen counter. He refuses to sleep in bed. Hasn't slept in bed for over 6 months--chooses to roll himself up in a fur laden kitty blanket and sleep sitting up on the living room sofa. His doctor never addressed the fact the caregiver is beyond exhaustion. The doctor's only suggestion was....try and keep spouse from dozing off during the day, perhaps he will sleep better at night! I responded to the doctor--how should I do that, pinch him every 10 minutes! Will add---spouse is very lazy, always was. Doesn't have a hobby, doesn't want a hobby, anti-social, doesn't care to socialize and has never helped around the house. Doesn't know what a paint brush or step ladder is. Cutting 2 acres of grass has never been his style. Lawn mowers, electric drills and screwdrivers are for 'other' people. I'm so disgusted and beyond tired I plan to go to a pharmacy and choose an over-the-counter sleeping pill for him. If it doesn't agree with his current medicine, that will need dealt with. I'm tired of reaching out to professionals that really do not understand caregivers situations. If professionals have not been there, they certainly do not understand. In fact, during the last visit, spouse's doctor told me he has no doubt that I would die before my husband! Talk about a positive doctor visit! Not!
Grammy, do you use the same doctor? Perhaps you need an appointment for yourself, describe what it is like trying to get by with no sleep and no support, maybe then he will get it!!! Seriously though, you can't care for him unless you care for yourself first. If you can't make the doctor understand then you need a doctor with more experience treating dementia. Would it be possible to have your husband go to day care during the week? That would keep him up during the day and give him something to focus on as well as giving you a break.
Trazadone does work well as it not only helps with sleep but calms anxiety as well. Its been around for years so it costs much less than the new meds which seem to have more side effects like sleep eating and driving while asleep( yes that has been reported) check with doc this may work well for you.
My Alz husband gets celexa for depression and Ativan at night to sleep it has worked for six months. He is prescribed .5mg twice a day but I only give it to him at night and I usually cut it in half. If he is not sleep within the hour I gave him the other half. It also helps to keep them busy during the day so they are tired at night
All prescription and over the counter medications as well as any supplements should be logged and reviewed by a geriatric psychiatrist. It can be amazing what the right medical professional can do. You should also work on the daytime routine to increase activity if possible and remove anything in the nighttime environment that may be leading to sleep issues.
No meds that affect the brain should be given without a doctor's knowledge and review of all other meds! Listen to others. Get a referral to a good geriatric psychiatrist. These doctors are not just for 'crazy people'....they specialize in the dementias and Alzheimers and they know which psych meds work well on the brain to calm anxiety, agitation, wandering and inability to sleep, hallucinations and all the rest of the things that come with the brain not sending signals back and forth correctly. It made a world of difference for my Dad to become a patient at a good office with great staff. In fact, I now believe that any good memory care or dementia facility should have an affiliation with a Geriatric-Psych office that will do 'home' visits to their facility. My Dad was on trazadone, respiradol, and a couple others at various times. He also was on an antidepressant drug that was known to increase appetite when he started losing weight. It's amazing all the things that happen to the body when the brain is not able to send the right signals at the right time, or in the right order!!
All I have to say is that medication works differently with people. What works for one, will not work for the other...try something for 3 or 4 days...and see if it's working, it not...try something else. gooood luck with that...nothing worse than not sleeping!
Dear Jeanne Gibs, First of all, two of my husband's Alzheimer doctors told me that you should never give a Alzheimer patient sleeping pills. It interferes with their very already deteriorating brain. But, Jeanne says doctors say no one should take sleeping pills. I am75 and here to tell you I have taken sleeping pills ( Ambien) every single night for 25 years. From childhood on, I was never able to sleep, had to be taken home from camp with exhaustion, ruined vacations, finally in my 30's serious fibromyalgia - for 3 years, so bad I lost 60 lbs and was in a wheel chair for 2 years till finally a doctor at the Mayo Clinic bothered to take some samples of blood and found out that I did not secrete the necessary hormones to sleep. They could not be taken by pill or injection. I tried melatonin and was allergic to it. The doctor there told me that from 25 years of no sleep or at best 2-3 hours a night, I had worn by body down so badly that I got fibromyalgia. Apparently during sleep the muscles secrete toxins and rests so they are restored for the next day. So, I didn't have a choice. I finally am sleeping 7 hours a night- no I never wake on Ambien after a few hours, nor have I ever gotten up and eaten anything or done anything in my sleep. Thank God for Ambien. I have no side effects and if I didn't take this lifesaver, I would most likely be dead by now. My doctor at the Mayo Clinic said it is far better to be addicted to sleeping pills than to burn your body into the ground and die. I never take more than 5 mg. I am a very healthy person now and so apparently at age 75, the Ambien has no bad effects on my body. KM
I had lunch with a friend today--79 years old.. Her daughter (40) has gotten three DUIs and has lost her drivers license for eight years! Now my poor friend and her husband have their daughter living with them, and they have to drive her back and forth to work and everywhere she goes.
Wait, wait, here is the punchline:
It wasn't alcohol. She got DUIs for driving under the influence of Ambien!!!!!!!!!!
Benedryl is a big no-no for dementia patients. It interferes with the aceticocholine (sp?) cycle somehow. However, since my husband frequently pops awake at 4 am (wide-awake Willie), I take the benedryl myself so I can at least get a few good hours in. So far I refuse to give him any sleep medication (melatonin has no effect). I would rather have him up than run around dopey and disoriented. Even last night he was totally out of it anyway around 3 am. It's a very hard time when he has a couple bad nights. But I did find he sleeps more the next couple of days. Sure wish I could find what triggers the early morning awakening.
I too have had insomnia most of my life and have taken Ambien most nights for the past 10 years. It is not an addiction; if it were I would sleep less well if I stopped taking Ambien one night than I do if I had never taken Ambien in the first place, and I would have to take a larger and larger dose over time. Neither is true.
KM1027, I am curious what blood test you got that showed you lack a hormone to sleep! I am certain that I have a similar situation. You found a great doctor who knew what to look for. Most doctors receive about an hour of training in insomnia in 4 years of medical school and don't have a clue about it. The book _Insomniac_ by Gayle Greene is instructive.
I've tried just about everything and here is what I have found: Paxil is an antidepressant that is also soporific and may help with insomnia Other tricyclic antidepressants may also calm anxiety and have an effect on sleep Trazodone helped me sleep for a few nights, but made my nose so dry I got a sinus infection Benadryl is helpful but should NOT be taken regularly by those over the age of 65 (or anyone, I believe, just to be safe) for reasons Edahmen stated Ambien CR addresses the problem of waking up after 4 hours, as it releases the drug gradually over the night Xanax addresses anxiety, and can put a sufferer to sleep Gabapentin is used as a painkiller for arthritis, and as an anti-seizure medication, and can be great for insomnia Valerian tea or capsules can be helpful 3 herb formulas in combination can be helpful: Gaia Sleep Formula, Seriphos, and Cortisol Management I have more on these on my blog at peacefuldog.blogspot/2011/12/non-canine-sleep-aids-ncsas.html
Of course, consult your doctor about any of these. Good luck finding one who knows anything about insomnia. IMO, anyone who says any group of people should never take sleep meds has never lived with the life-destroying misery of chronic insomnia.
Restoring more normal sleep patterns is really important for the patient, and not just for the caregiver. So, trials of different meds are well worth the effort. OTC meds commonly have benadryl (diphendydramine) which often is intolerable for elderly persons and can worsen function and can contribute to agitation or sedation the next day. Paradoxical reactions (agitation rather than sedation) are not uncommon, and the meds build up with daily use even thought the half life is technically short. On the other hand, there is much to try in the prescription categories: certain antidepressants such as trazodone, some of the antipsychotics used for dementia, and certain other 'sleeping pills' may be the one which finally helps in your case. Some people even do well on an NSAID at bedtime. All of these are meds which your doctor should be regulating.
If you want to try natural remedies, read Donna Gates' "Body Ecology Diet" pg. 105, discussion of Kefir (a probiotic cultured milk product) B vitamins, D, K, tryptophan converted into seratonin, additional calcium, magnesium, and their calming effects, especially for sleeping through the night. if your mom (like mine) is a sweet-lover, you'll have to sweeten it with stevia herb and fruit, as it is sour like a drinkable yogurt.
My father was given sleeping pills when he broke his arm. They worked the opposite way. He was very agitated and couldn't sleep at all. I tossed 'em. There were difficult nights and I was super tired. Some nights I would sit next to him in bed so he could put his head in my lap. I kept reminding him if we kept on going forward, he would look back on this time as a victory lap. He did get well and I finally got some rest. Now he is in Stage 1 Alzheimer's with a new set of challenges. Tell her doctor so it is in her records and toss 'em. Ask your doctor if Benadryl would be OK. That worked better for Dad. Hang in there.
My mother has been on the drug Lunesta for the last three years or so. Starting in June, she sustained a total of 10 falls. She walked around in a stuporous fog all day. We finally discontinued the drug on August 16, and she is a new person. The crazy thing is, she has absolutely no memory of any fall, even though three of them landed her in the emergency room. She is taking a product called Melatonex and sleeps through the night except for one or two trips to the bathroom. Her gait is steady and she hasn't fallen since Aug 19 or so.
By proceeding, I agree that I understand the following disclosures:
I. How We Work in Washington.
Based on your preferences, we provide you with information about one or more of our contracted senior living providers ("Participating Communities") and provide your Senior Living Care Information to Participating Communities. The Participating Communities may contact you directly regarding their services.
APFM does not endorse or recommend any provider. It is your sole responsibility to select the appropriate care for yourself or your loved one. We work with both you and the Participating Communities in your search. We do not permit our Advisors to have an ownership interest in Participating Communities.
II. How We Are Paid.
We do not charge you any fee – we are paid by the Participating Communities. Some Participating Communities pay us a percentage of the first month's standard rate for the rent and care services you select. We invoice these fees after the senior moves in.
III. When We Tour.
APFM tours certain Participating Communities in Washington (typically more in metropolitan areas than in rural areas.) During the 12 month period prior to December 31, 2017, we toured 86.2% of Participating Communities with capacity for 20 or more residents.
IV. No Obligation or Commitment.
You have no obligation to use or to continue to use our services. Because you pay no fee to us, you will never need to ask for a refund.
V. Complaints.
Please contact our Family Feedback Line at (866) 584-7340 or ConsumerFeedback@aplaceformom.com to report any complaint. Consumers have many avenues to address a dispute with any referral service company, including the right to file a complaint with the Attorney General's office at: Consumer Protection Division, 800 5th Avenue, Ste. 2000, Seattle, 98104 or 800-551-4636.
VI. No Waiver of Your Rights.
APFM does not (and may not) require or even ask consumers seeking senior housing or care services in Washington State to sign waivers of liability for losses of personal property or injury or to sign waivers of any rights established under law.
I agree that:
A.
I authorize A Place For Mom ("APFM") to collect certain personal and contact detail information, as well as relevant health care information about me or from me about the senior family member or relative I am assisting ("Senior Living Care Information").
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APFM may provide information to me electronically. My electronic signature on agreements and documents has the same effect as if I signed them in ink.
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APFM may send all communications to me electronically via e-mail or by access to an APFM web site.
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If I want a paper copy, I can print a copy of the Disclosures or download the Disclosures for my records.
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This E-Sign Acknowledgement and Authorization applies to these Disclosures and all future Disclosures related to APFM's services, unless I revoke my authorization. You may revoke this authorization in writing at any time (except where we have already disclosed information before receiving your revocation.) This authorization will expire after one year.
F.
You consent to APFM's reaching out to you using a phone system than can auto-dial numbers (we miss rotary phones, too!), but this consent is not required to use our service.
Why can't this person sleep? Is she agitated? Needing to pee every hour? Fearful? Having awful dreams? She sleeps all day? I think narrowing down some possible causes would help the doctor make recommendations.
Then we went on a three-month vacation together.
I couldn't believe it. My mom got up int he night, spoke in gibberish, went to the kitchen and ate food (very common apparently). One night she dropped cake in the middle of the living room floor.
Ironically, the very next day I overeard someone say something about ambien. I went to the computer and googled "problems with Ambien," and oh boy, what stories I found.
I confronted my mom, wrote to her doctor, and she never took ambien again.
I would always advise googling about the drug and "problems with" before trying it.
good luck!
I am glad to hear that. What pills?
Seriously though, you can't care for him unless you care for yourself first. If you can't make the doctor understand then you need a doctor with more experience treating dementia. Would it be possible to have your husband go to day care during the week? That would keep him up during the day and give him something to focus on as well as giving you a break.
But, Jeanne says doctors say no one should take sleeping pills. I am75 and here to tell you I have taken sleeping pills ( Ambien) every single night for 25 years. From childhood on, I was never able to sleep, had to be taken home from camp with exhaustion, ruined vacations, finally in my 30's serious fibromyalgia - for 3 years, so bad I lost 60 lbs and was in a wheel chair for 2 years till finally a doctor at the Mayo Clinic bothered to take some samples of blood and found out that I did not secrete the necessary hormones to sleep. They could not be taken by pill or injection. I tried melatonin and was allergic to it. The doctor there told me that from 25 years of no sleep or at best 2-3 hours a night, I had worn by body down so badly that I got fibromyalgia. Apparently during sleep the muscles secrete toxins and rests so they are restored for the next day. So, I didn't have a choice. I finally am sleeping 7 hours a night- no I never wake on Ambien after a few hours, nor have I ever gotten up and eaten anything or done anything in my sleep. Thank God for Ambien. I have no side effects and if I didn't take this lifesaver, I would most likely be dead by now. My doctor at the Mayo Clinic said it is far better to be addicted to sleeping pills than to burn your body into the ground and die. I never take more than 5 mg. I am a very healthy person now and so apparently at age 75, the Ambien has no bad effects on my body. KM
I had lunch with a friend today--79 years old.. Her daughter (40) has gotten three DUIs and has lost her drivers license for eight years! Now my poor friend and her husband have their daughter living with them, and they have to drive her back and forth to work and everywhere she goes.
Wait, wait, here is the punchline:
It wasn't alcohol. She got DUIs for driving under the influence of Ambien!!!!!!!!!!
Just heard that today. Honest.
KM1027, I am curious what blood test you got that showed you lack a hormone to sleep! I am certain that I have a similar situation. You found a great doctor who knew what to look for. Most doctors receive about an hour of training in insomnia in 4 years of medical school and don't have a clue about it. The book _Insomniac_ by Gayle Greene is instructive.
I've tried just about everything and here is what I have found:
Paxil is an antidepressant that is also soporific and may help with insomnia
Other tricyclic antidepressants may also calm anxiety and have an effect on sleep
Trazodone helped me sleep for a few nights, but made my nose so dry I got a sinus infection
Benadryl is helpful but should NOT be taken regularly by those over the age of 65 (or anyone, I believe, just to be safe) for reasons Edahmen stated
Ambien CR addresses the problem of waking up after 4 hours, as it releases the drug gradually over the night
Xanax addresses anxiety, and can put a sufferer to sleep
Gabapentin is used as a painkiller for arthritis, and as an anti-seizure medication, and can be great for insomnia
Valerian tea or capsules can be helpful
3 herb formulas in combination can be helpful: Gaia Sleep Formula, Seriphos, and Cortisol Management
I have more on these on my blog at peacefuldog.blogspot/2011/12/non-canine-sleep-aids-ncsas.html
Of course, consult your doctor about any of these. Good luck finding one who knows anything about insomnia. IMO, anyone who says any group of people should never take sleep meds has never lived with the life-destroying misery of chronic insomnia.
Hang in there.
That is a story to remember!!!!!!!!!!!
I cannot say enough about having medications fine-tuned.