Hello,
Well, it has to be said, I've had one hell of a day.
Had a call from my mum last night, asking me if I would 'play Sherlock' & do some research on the drugs my Gran is taking - namely Olanzapine & Citalopram. Gran's tablets are delivered in the Nomad system, (finally remembered the name of the blessed thing!) so we never get to see the leaflets that come with medication to be able to read side effects & stuff? Gran's has oedema on her ankles & mum was thinking it may be because of the Olanzapine.
So, first thing this morning, on goes the detective head, my mouse hits 'Internet Explorer' & off I go.
Man did I get a scare! I finished up ringing my mum back & asking her to come over & read some of the stuff for herself. There was so much adverse information, I couldn't think straight.
Does anyone have a friend/relative who has taken/is taking Olanzapine? And are they/have they suffered any of the side effects that are allegedly so prevalent? On nearly every site I looked at, it was stated that Olanzapine should not be given to elderly Alzheimers patients, my Gran is 86! Side effects of cerebrovascular events, diabetes, even death gave me the willies to say the least!
Gran was prescribed this tablet about a month ago for its side effect of weight gain. Gran's very underweight with not eating very well, & the specialist thought that the 'appetite stimulant' of the drug might help her. But surely the risks of the drug would outweigh the use of it? I let mum read some of the info I'd printed, & was even more taken aback at her response. We've had so little help from Social Services as regards care for Gran in our absence that she's formed the opinion that if this drug causes things to go pear shaped, & leads to more definitive care for Gran then so be it?!?!?!? How can anyone think like that? I can understand it up to a point, but blimey! I know if it was Mum that was the patient & someone told me the risks of a drug they'd given her I'd refuse the damned things no questions asked. Apparently there's a big hoo-haa in america with the makers of the drug, Eli Lilly, over the way its damaged so many people who've taken it.
My head's a bit mashed with all of this now. Don't know what to think ........
Well, it has to be said, I've had one hell of a day.
Had a call from my mum last night, asking me if I would 'play Sherlock' & do some research on the drugs my Gran is taking - namely Olanzapine & Citalopram. Gran's tablets are delivered in the Nomad system, (finally remembered the name of the blessed thing!) so we never get to see the leaflets that come with medication to be able to read side effects & stuff? Gran's has oedema on her ankles & mum was thinking it may be because of the Olanzapine.
So, first thing this morning, on goes the detective head, my mouse hits 'Internet Explorer' & off I go.
Man did I get a scare! I finished up ringing my mum back & asking her to come over & read some of the stuff for herself. There was so much adverse information, I couldn't think straight.
Does anyone have a friend/relative who has taken/is taking Olanzapine? And are they/have they suffered any of the side effects that are allegedly so prevalent? On nearly every site I looked at, it was stated that Olanzapine should not be given to elderly Alzheimers patients, my Gran is 86! Side effects of cerebrovascular events, diabetes, even death gave me the willies to say the least!
Gran was prescribed this tablet about a month ago for its side effect of weight gain. Gran's very underweight with not eating very well, & the specialist thought that the 'appetite stimulant' of the drug might help her. But surely the risks of the drug would outweigh the use of it? I let mum read some of the info I'd printed, & was even more taken aback at her response. We've had so little help from Social Services as regards care for Gran in our absence that she's formed the opinion that if this drug causes things to go pear shaped, & leads to more definitive care for Gran then so be it?!?!?!? How can anyone think like that? I can understand it up to a point, but blimey! I know if it was Mum that was the patient & someone told me the risks of a drug they'd given her I'd refuse the damned things no questions asked. Apparently there's a big hoo-haa in america with the makers of the drug, Eli Lilly, over the way its damaged so many people who've taken it.
My head's a bit mashed with all of this now. Don't know what to think ........