My mother, who now lives with my husband and I, was diagnosed with vascular dementia a couple of years ago following a minor stroke. Historically she has tended to be low in the winter months and picks up again as the spring arrives.
This winter over Christmas and in to the New Year we reached a crisis point where following a fall in October when she fractured her lower arm she took to her bed and slept for about 18 hours out of every 24. When Mum did not improve I called the GP who came and took a raft of blood tests which all proved negative and almost straight away Mum picked up. Following the GP visit we had a referral to Elderly Mental Health who has recommended 15mg of Mirtazapine to be given at night. Although I have POA for my mother's financial affairs I have been reminded by my sister that I do not have the final say in my mothers medical affairs. She is against Mum having any antidepressants as she has seen the effects on teenagers in her professional role as a teacher. I have suggested that we try Mum for 6 weeks but now because my sister is so anti the tablets I am feeling less confident in case Mum manifests any of the more unpleasant side effects. I know that I will be here to help Mum if there are any side effects, day or night but............../
Have any of you any personal experience that you could share with me please.
Thank you all so much for your personal experiences. RJM I will read your story when I have a moment. All experiences help to make good decisions. Acco thank you also for your contribution fortunately my mother does not seem to have any spasms so I am going to give the tablets a 6 week trial and see if it helpful if not it will not be too hard to withdraw from the antidepressant. To all of you I think the comments about older heads versus younger heads has given me back a bit of confidence to try out the Mirtazapine. Shash7677 I will search for the talking point you mention in the morning, I usually have a bit of time to myself then.
Sunday 17 February, I gave Mum a tablet with her milk at just gone 9 p.m. At 10 p.m. when I went in to her she was like a drunk, (she was already unsteady on her feet but this was worse) already complaining that she must have done something because her back and shoulders hurt and she was desperate to sleep (two of the known side effects). I helped her through her pre bedtime routine and before I had closed the door she was asleep. I checked her as soon as I woke the following morning and then hourly until 10 a.m. when I woke her for a cup of tea. She went straight back to sleep and eventually woke at 2 p.m. in a good mood but still very tired. She eventually got up by 5 p.m. still a bit unsteady on her feet. I just gave her a sandwich tea and a creme caramel to slide down as she was still so tired. Needless to say I will not be giving Mum another tablet just the excessive unsteadiness which could lead to a fall would be so detrimental is enough of a reason for me. I think I heard heard her wandering about last night but was so tired myself I could not rouse to go to her however I know she will have quietly gone back to bed where it would be warm under the bedclothes.
This winter over Christmas and in to the New Year we reached a crisis point where following a fall in October when she fractured her lower arm she took to her bed and slept for about 18 hours out of every 24. When Mum did not improve I called the GP who came and took a raft of blood tests which all proved negative and almost straight away Mum picked up. Following the GP visit we had a referral to Elderly Mental Health who has recommended 15mg of Mirtazapine to be given at night. Although I have POA for my mother's financial affairs I have been reminded by my sister that I do not have the final say in my mothers medical affairs. She is against Mum having any antidepressants as she has seen the effects on teenagers in her professional role as a teacher. I have suggested that we try Mum for 6 weeks but now because my sister is so anti the tablets I am feeling less confident in case Mum manifests any of the more unpleasant side effects. I know that I will be here to help Mum if there are any side effects, day or night but............../
Have any of you any personal experience that you could share with me please.
Thank you all so much for your personal experiences. RJM I will read your story when I have a moment. All experiences help to make good decisions. Acco thank you also for your contribution fortunately my mother does not seem to have any spasms so I am going to give the tablets a 6 week trial and see if it helpful if not it will not be too hard to withdraw from the antidepressant. To all of you I think the comments about older heads versus younger heads has given me back a bit of confidence to try out the Mirtazapine. Shash7677 I will search for the talking point you mention in the morning, I usually have a bit of time to myself then.
Sunday 17 February, I gave Mum a tablet with her milk at just gone 9 p.m. At 10 p.m. when I went in to her she was like a drunk, (she was already unsteady on her feet but this was worse) already complaining that she must have done something because her back and shoulders hurt and she was desperate to sleep (two of the known side effects). I helped her through her pre bedtime routine and before I had closed the door she was asleep. I checked her as soon as I woke the following morning and then hourly until 10 a.m. when I woke her for a cup of tea. She went straight back to sleep and eventually woke at 2 p.m. in a good mood but still very tired. She eventually got up by 5 p.m. still a bit unsteady on her feet. I just gave her a sandwich tea and a creme caramel to slide down as she was still so tired. Needless to say I will not be giving Mum another tablet just the excessive unsteadiness which could lead to a fall would be so detrimental is enough of a reason for me. I think I heard heard her wandering about last night but was so tired myself I could not rouse to go to her however I know she will have quietly gone back to bed where it would be warm under the bedclothes.
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