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My grandma (72 yrs) was put on lorazepam. HELP


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My grandma has chronic bronchitis, and sometimes has trouble breathing.  The doctors prescribed a nebulizer, a floroquinolone antibiotic, and lorazepam (ativan) (as needed I believe), and now discharged from the hospital.  She only has me to take care of her.  :-\ 

 

I read on wikipedia that benzo's are contraindicated for people with bronchitis and COPD, because it depresses the respiratory system, and weakens the immune system.  Also, people ages 65+ have a 50% of getting dementia, or amnesia.

 

They have been sedating her in the hospital, and now, she has a very hard time remembering things.  Often, she is stuck on words, and loses herself mid-setence.  Before all  this, she was driving to the casino every week and was very sharp for her age. 

 

I don't know what to do!  I really want to say "Ok, don't take these pills!".  But on the other hand, when she is caught off breath, she panics.  Then I panic, which is probably the worst thing to do, but I can't control my fear response.  I'm already stressed right to the hilt, obsessively worrying now for both of us. 

 

I can't play doctor, because I'm not a doctor.  I could really use some help and advice right now.  :'(

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Do you know about the dangers of taking fluoroquinolones and benzos at the same time?  Very bad idea.  You should do a search on BB on this.  Good luck, K. 
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Oh man, I know too much. 

 

Every person I talk to (the nurse, doctor, my therapist, my friends) all tell me to just relax.  They say trust the doctor, they know what they are doing.

 

I also printed out the wikipedia article showing the contraindications of benzos with people who have breathing problems, plus the effects they have on the elderly, and the potential for dependancy, and I got shoved off saying that nothing should be taken to heart from wikipedia. 

 

My grandma's cognitive skills aren't doing well at all.  I remain positive and reassuring, I tell her she need not worry about anything.  I do my best.  Yeah, ever since they sedated her, her memory is horrible, shes depressed, and constantly worrying.  She is definetely not the grandma that I always known.  She is defenetly not the same person that she was before she was sedated.  Now, she often doesn't make sense when she talks, and she has trouble figuring out what's going on.  It's kind of like alzheimers.  I make her a sandwich, she eats it, then 5 minutes later, asks me if I made that sandwich or not.  The doctors did this to her, then send her home with only me to take care of her.  Like I said, she was very sharp and had good memory before all this. 

 

She is prescribed 0.5mg Ativan, 3 times a day when needed.  I really want to push not taking it, but everyone else says she

needs it.  They tell me to stop worrying and relax.

 

I really can see this all going down-hill.  And if only you'd know how much I love my grandma. We've been living together supporting each other for 7+ years.  Now shes turning into somebody I don't even know. 

 

I've asked for help from my therapist, I advised her nurse and doctor, and everyone thinks I'm really over-reacting.  Why is everyone so ignorant about the damaging effects of benzos??????  I can see how damaging just a couple of doses are;  it's happening right before my eyes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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They say trust the doctor, they know what they are doing.

 

Yea, except sometimes they don't know what they are doing. Or at least they don't know everything there is to know about certain drugs.

 

It doesn't matter that wikipedia has been shown to be very accurate....you are going to get blown off every time if you try to use that as your source of info. Use wikipedia to find specific studies to use as ammo. All of the citations are at the bottom of the page.

 

I am going through a similar situation with my dad. He went into cardiac arrest earlier this month and has been in the hospital since. They have given him xanax on 2 occasions that I am aware of and needless to say I am monitoring this closely. The last thing I want to have to deal with is explaining why he doesn't need this medication to doctors while I am still sick, but if this becomes a regular occurrence you better believe that's what I will do.

 

It's all too easy for the nurses to claim that he "needs something to help him relax" if he is being difficult. Once every week or two? I'm not too concerned about that. 5 times a week? Not going to happen on my watch.

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Well, I prayed and cried, and seemed to finally pull myself together a bit.  I've got some strength.

 

The ativan prescription reads 0.5mg lorazepam 3x a day when needed.  So, I'm doing my best to really stay positive, really hope for good outcomes.  And that seems to help grandma.  When I feel better and sure-footed, she kind of follows my lead.  I know, when I'm not at my best, it really makes things worse, but sometimes I have a real hard time controlling it.

 

Grandma is pretty strong-headed on taking this ativan, because she knows it helps her 'nerves'.  I can't really seem to convince her otherwise.  And I can't seem to convince anyone else either. 

 

All I can do is imagine a future that is positive, and where everything will turn out fine.  I guess I have to accept the things I cannot change.  Because believe me, I've tried to change this ativan deal.  We'll see if I can only get her to take one at bed-time only (instead of the 3 a day). 

 

I hope I have enough strength to do this.  :-\

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Maybe you could talk to her doctor about your concerns and her cognitive issues at home?  See if they can give her a smaller dose or something else? 
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