Becoming aggressive/violent

tazzi22

Registered User
Feb 17, 2007
7
0
Edinburgh
My mother is now becoming violent as well as aggressive. The aggressive stage has just been recent and now violence. She seems to be progressing really quickly, she was diagnosed 4 years ago and now does not know who we are. My dad, who lives with her, phoned me for emotional support as he was at the end of his thether today. I suggested he take her to the GP tomorrow and see what he can suggest. What medication would calm her a little or is it possible the gp may section her - my dad would not want this. I'm not so sure as his health will suffer and i worry about them both. Any suggestons.
 

May

Registered User
Oct 15, 2005
627
0
Yorkshire
Hi Tazzi

We went through this with my Mum. Do get your Mum to the gp. There are drugs that can help, my Mum was on promazine first of all, she did become worse but this doesn't necessarily happen to everyone. At that stage she went into hospital and was put on Haliperidol but when she came out we saw her gp again who prescribed Risperidone which is less of a chemical cosh than the Haliperidol (didn't make her so sleepy). She is still on this now (18mths down the line) and it works well. This type of problem doesn't always lead to 'sectioning' I would urge you and your Dad to seek help now, the sooner the better.
take care
 

Taffy

Registered User
Apr 15, 2007
1,314
0
Hi tazzi,
I feel for your poor dad, it must be so hard on him as well as you. When mum starting getting really aggressive I took her to her GP who also prescribed Haloperidol, this worked very well for her, she only needed it for a short time and this aggression passed. I'm sure that the GP will be able to help your mum. As May posted there are meds that can help and sometimes it is just a matter of trying until you find the one that suits. Good Luck. Taffy.
 

Nebiroth

Registered User
Aug 20, 2006
3,510
0
Your GP is the first port of call, although you could also call in the CPN if you have one. It's quite likely that the GP will be able to prescribe something to help right away, but may also arrange for mum to see a specialist psychiatrist who will decide on longer term treatment.

There are quite a few things they have in the cupboard for agression, depends on the severity and frequency I guess.

My dad was prescribed Quitiapine because he had started to become agressive, mostly verbally but it was escalating - but he also had (and has) terrible paranoid delusions and the drug is supposed to help with that too.

I don't think sectioning is likely, that is usually a last resort, to be used when everything else has been tried and failed or in an emergency when the patient is at immediate risk to themselves or others.

A GP cannot normally section someone on their own, unless they deem it an emergency. It usually takes two doctors in agreement (normally, one will be the patients GP, the other a psychiatrist) plus either a social worker or the patient's closest relative.

They may recommend a short stay in hospital whilst mum's condition is assessed and a course of treatment decided.

Of course, things like this are horrible, but if mum is becoming violent, then it may be the only choice for the sake of her own safety as well as that of dad's. Is the agression/violence directed generally, or at one specific person? Are there any specific triggers?

If mum is so confused, her behavior so challenging, then the time may have come to consider residential care.
 

Ashburton

Registered User
Feb 19, 2007
99
0
The violence thing also very recently happened to us. My mum too was diagnosed 4 years ago. With us I went to the gp myself, didn't have to bring my mum, and he prescribed Valium for a week while we set up a consoltation with a specialist, the valium worked for us, on the down side my mum slept too much on valium, dosage has since been reduced to 2.5 mg 3 times a day, also on Solian which I think the specialist will keep her on and ditch the valium, he also gave her Ebixa for ad to take with her aricept. She has not been violent now for three weeks although her speach is now quite poor.

As for triggers for violence, we have now found out that my mum had a unrinary infection which may hav led to the violence, but who knows.
 

Margarita

Registered User
Feb 17, 2006
10,824
0
london
Ashburton

when my mother was given Ebixa , she stop being so aggressive towards me , but it did seem to take a very long time to kick in .

was your mother starting ebixa , just taking half tablets then building up to whole one , then 2 each day
 
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Mameeskye

Registered User
Aug 9, 2007
1,669
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NZ
Something was prescribed for my Mum when she was in the nursing home, they did tell me what at the time but I have totally forgotten. The staff tended to only give it very occasionally if her behviour was becoming poor or if she was very agitated and they knew it was likely to deteriorate.

They did not like to give as a matter of course as they felt that it could cause more problems than it cured and certainly with Mum she became incontinent and very sleepy for 24 hours after it.

Luckily she only needed it for a few weeks as she got a severe UTI and upon recovering from this the aggressive urges are mostly gone. Occasionally she and another resident have a spat but as she is frail these days it is not too problematic.

Not ideal..but pragmatic..and can be changed as circumstances change.

((((((hugs)))))) It's hard.

Mameeskye
 

Natashalou

Registered User
Mar 22, 2007
426
0
london
My mother too has haliperidol and it seems to have stopped her violent tendancies effectivly...but she is still verbally aggressive and has paranoia. I have asked if there isnt anyhting that can help with that as well but without much joy.
 

Ashburton

Registered User
Feb 19, 2007
99
0
Margarita said:
Ashburton

when my mother was given Ebixa , she stop being so aggressive towards me , but it did seem to take a very long time to kick in .

was your mother starting ebixa , just taking half tablets then building up to whole one , then 2 each day


Hi Margarita

Yes my mum has only just started 1/2 tablet Ebixa, suppose the valium has stopped the temper, how did Ebixa work for your mum? was there an improvement? As said my mums speach is now quite bad, it is very hard to understand her, will Ebixa help with this?

I am also finding going out to the supermarket my mum will start singing in the supermarket or pointing at people.
 

Canadian Joanne

Registered User
Apr 8, 2005
17,710
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70
Toronto, Canada
There are various medications available. Is your mother on any meds at all? AD drugs could actually prove to be quite helpful for both behaviour and disease progression. There are also drugs for aggression & violence. Since my mother was both for quite long periods, we have gone through quite a few.

It may take some time to find the right one. Don't get disheartened but also keep an eye & make sure she does not get over medicated.
 

Nebiroth

Registered User
Aug 20, 2006
3,510
0
Drugs like Valium are usually only prescribed to deal with an immediate problem, on a short-term basis. That's because they fairly quickly lose their beneficial effects but at the same time can give addiction problems.

Most doctors will only give something like Valium for no more than a week.

Usually in the longer term something like one of the anti-psychotics would be used.

Interesting to hear that someone was recently prescribed Ebixa, because under the NICE guidelines this is no longer available via the NHS, at any stage.

Maybe it;s one of those things where it can still be given under a "clinical judgement" that over-rides the guidelines
 

mocha

Registered User
Feb 17, 2006
176
0
89
Lancs, England
Ebixa

It makes me very envious when I read that AD sufferers have been given Ebixa as I have been paying for it at £2-50 a day for 4 years.

I have heard it depends on your local Health Authority whether they allow it or not.

Ron improved beyond belief when he started it and now he is in the later stages I just daren't stop it.

He was taken off Aricept and he went right down and stopped attempting to feed himself. I insisted I wanted it re-instated and luckily they did and it was a bit to my surprise he picked up again. If anything he is brighter than he was before it was stopped.

Aileen :) :)
 

Ashburton

Registered User
Feb 19, 2007
99
0
Interesting to hear that someone was recently prescribed Ebixa, because under the NICE guidelines this is no longer available via the NHS, at any stage.

Maybe it;s one of those things where it can still be given under a "clinical judgement" that over-rides the guidelines[/QUOTE]



That was for us, we live in Ireland, still have to pay for drug, but you pay 80 Euro per month, this 80 Euro covers all medication, so presently my mum is on Aricept, Ebixa,Valium,Solian,Delmane(optional) and Augmentim, all covered under 80 Euro rule.
 

Grannie G

Volunteer Moderator
Apr 3, 2006
81,455
0
Kent
mocha said:
It makes me very envious when I read that AD sufferers have been given Ebixa as I have been paying for it at £2-50 a day for 4 years.

Aileen :) :)

Dear Aileen,

Have you tried an appeal to see if your case could be reconsidered? I`m thinking in terms of letters to you MP and the Health Secretary.

You seem to be a victim of the Post Code lottery and it is grossly unfair you have to buy the drug privately whilst others get in on the NHS.

Buying it for 4 years is surely enough proof the drug is beneficial.