Q. I’m worried about my mother. She’s 65 and has type 2 diabetes and mild depression.
In the last few months, her behavior has changed dramatically. She is extremely lethargic and has no energy to do housework. She is sleeping a lot and often falls when she gets up. She says she feels dizzy.
She’s normally very industrious, loves the outdoors and keeps a very clean home. She says her blood sugars are very good now during the day, but they go extremely low at night.
Her doctor told her to take Dramamine and cold medicine for the vertigo. She also takes Abilify, Actos, atenolol, Benicar, furosemide, gabapentin, glimepiride, insulin, Lipitor, paroxetine, potassium chloride, Sular, and sometimes Acetaminophen PM. What do you think?
A. This is a LOT of medicine! Your mother needs a specialist in geriatric medicine who can review everything very carefully for side effects and interactions. She should not stop any medication on her own, but the doctor needs to see if she really needs each of the medications in this complex regimen.
Abilify is of particular concern because it can complicate the treatment of diabetes and can be dangerous in older patients. It may also contribute to dizziness on arising.
We are sending you our Guide to Drugs and Older People for a discussion of the pitfalls of of medication for senior citizens along with a drug safety questionnaire that should be filled out by her doctor and pharmacist.
