Are there such things as placebo tablets?

[BraesideBairn]

My mum is given paracetamol as part of her medication three times a day by her carers. However, she has no memory of taking her medication and continuous seeks out more paracetamol. We don’t think she is actually experiencing pain but taking the tablets seems to give her comfort. As no medication kept in the house, she then goes out and buys painkilers which she then consumes with obvious concerns around overdosing.

Her carers feel that if she had acccess to a placebo pill which she could take this would remove the issue. I am sure we can’t be the only ones who have experienced this. Are such products available or at least an alternative looking tablet such as a vitamin supplement we could use.

Unfortunately I don’t think she would be fooled by something like sweets or TikTaks. It needs to look like a white tablet

Any guidance please.

 

[My Mum's Daughter]

I once travelled with a child that really suffered from travel sickness so on entering the bus, I gave him a "tablet" to hold with strict instructions that this "tablet" was only to be taken in an emergency.
On reaching the destination, this child went to hand this "tablet" back to which I replied "you might as well eat it then".
Child had a good sense of humour and belly laughed when he realised that he'd travelled grasping a Tic Tac.

 

[Alisongs]

How about some good old fashioned Swizzels Fizzers and Parma Violet sweets tipped into an old plastic tablet bottle, relabelled Placebo Tablets, take one every 4 hours, no more than six a day...... The Parma Violets especially may generate childhood memories. (I think they taste foul!) This presumes Mum can have a little sugar.. Available in old fash sweet shops or via

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There are always Tic Tacs and the like too

 

[nitram]

You can buy empty gelatine capsules and fill them with edible powder eg cornflour

Amazon.co.uk : empty gelatin capsules

 

[sdmhred]

I would do as @nitram suggests - but maybe also repackage some white tic tacs as well as they might work in a pill bottle.

I would also visit the local pharmacies and speak to the pharmacists. If aware of her situation they may well stop her buying the painkillers and divert her to a vitamin pill or something. If she’s buying from supermarkets that’s harder tho.

Probably also worth chatting to the GP. I’m sure they won’t have much practical help but would be good for them to be aware woth the potential overdose and drug mixing risk.

 

[nnbq]

You can get white vitamin c tablets, these are usually dispensed if placebo is prescribedl (Not the chewable or fizzy ones. )

 

[Orsonkartt]

My mum is given paracetamol as part of her medication three times a day by her carers. However, she has no memory of taking her medication and continuous seeks out more paracetamol. We don’t think she is actually experiencing pain but taking the tablets seems to give her comfort. As no medication kept in the house, she then goes out and buys painkilers which she then consumes with obvious concerns around overdosing.

Her carers feel that if she had acccess to a placebo pill which she could take this would remove the issue. I am sure we can’t be the only ones who have experienced this. Are such products available or at least an alternative looking tablet such as a vitamin supplement we could use.

Unfortunately I don’t think she would be fooled by something like sweets or TikTaks. It needs to look like a white tablet

Any guidance please.

I’ve bought some on eBay. Just search for placebo. - recently I’ve gone over to purchasing the empty capsules and filling them with protein powder. A lot cheaper but immensely boring

 

[Kevinl]

I have a view on Aricept/Donepezil so I'll shut up, if you think it works then do it.
I used Smarties, come in whatever colour medication she thought she needed, don't make no difference to me, I'm colourblind.
Smarties (the sweets) cost pennies, she would help me out when I told her it was 2 blue ones and one red one, same with her medication, 2 of these and one of those.
Been a longtime now but it worked for me. K

 

[Jaded'n'faded]

You can buy empty gelatine capsules and fill them with edible powder eg cornflour

Amazon.co.uk : empty gelatin capsules

Crikey! Those are what all the drug dealers use on 'The Wire'! Don't think they put cornflour in them though...

 

[Edith.]

My mum is given paracetamol as part of her medication three times a day by her carers. However, she has no memory of taking her medication and continuous seeks out more paracetamol. We don’t think she is actually experiencing pain but taking the tablets seems to give her comfort. As no medication kept in the house, she then goes out and buys painkilers which she then consumes with obvious concerns around overdosing.

Her carers feel that if she had acccess to a placebo pill which she could take this would remove the issue. I am sure we can’t be the only ones who have experienced this. Are such products available or at least an alternative looking tablet such as a vitamin supplement we could use.

Unfortunately I don’t think she would be fooled by something like sweets or TikTaks. It needs to look like a white tablet

Any guidance please.

My husband is in a nursing home and bed bound for over 3 years fixated on painkillers I sent away for placebo tablets and he thought they were great. Eventually 5 months later they are no good but that done the job for a while

 

[Alisongs]

Crikey! Those are what all the drug dealers use on 'The Wire'! Don't think they put cornflour in them though...

The unscrupulous probably do. Cheaper than the hard stuff. Caveat emptor and all that!

 

[Kevinl]

Just get smarties, the sweets (other sweets are available) look like tablets and taste nice too, cheapest placebos you can get. K

 

[sdmhred]

Or actually one of the cheapest drugs you can get …. A sugar, chocolate hit in a pill 🤣🤣 love them!

 

[steph122]

My mum is given paracetamol as part of her medication three times a day by her carers. However, she has no memory of taking her medication and continuous seeks out more paracetamol. We don’t think she is actually experiencing pain but taking the tablets seems to give her comfort. As no medication kept in the house, she then goes out and buys painkilers which she then consumes with obvious concerns around overdosing.

Her carers feel that if she had acccess to a placebo pill which she could take this would remove the issue. I am sure we can’t be the only ones who have experienced this. Are such products available or at least an alternative looking tablet such as a vitamin supplement we could use.

Unfortunately I don’t think she would be fooled by something like sweets or TikTaks. It needs to look like a white tablet

Any guidance please.

why are the carers giving your mum Paracetamol three time a day, should only be given as pain relief, if she is not in pain she should not be given it. Paracetamol or any over the counter medication is called Pro re nata (PRN). What are the carers saying to your mum when giving her Paracetamol. Are the carers recording the dosage of paracetamol and the time given as should only be taken every 4 to 6 hours and not more than four doses in 24 hours. Therefore, if the carers give your mum Paracetamol at 9.00am, 15.00pm 21.00pm then there is no need for any placebo. If your mum is living on her own, I assume she has capacity therefore the use of placebos would need to be a best interest decision and best to discuss with doctor.