Posted by violette on June 27, 2010, at 14:46:49
In reply to Beware of Lithium in nursing homes » violette, posted by former poster on June 27, 2010, at 13:54:51
FormerPoster - Thanks for adding your story to this...I am glad to hear your mother recovered thanks to your sis!
This woman didn't necessarily have psychosis-like dementia, she had a neuro (and several other docs) who did not think the meds were the cause, in addition to the psychiatrist...but I know what you mean by that..She also has had mild parkinson's symptoms for quite some time, but she was taking antipsychothics for decades. She had a neurologist and 6 other doctors. Apparently, no one connected the psych meds to the dimentia (I'm not sure how relevant her parksinson's symtpoms were in this but I'll probably talk to her next week) until the ER doc checked into it. She was on 11 different meds - and had been on Lithium plus antipsychotics most of her life.
What I'm thinking is that no one - not a doctor, bioscientist, or whoever - knows exactly how a combination of 11 meds can effect Lithium metabolism on the body (or maybe any other drug?). I mean, do studies even exist for the combination of 11 medications she was taking? Highly unlikely..Even if one of the doctors were to think, hmmm, maybe the large # of scripts she is taking might change the effects of lithium despite the optimal blood levels - none of them did until the ER doctor did. Her blood levels were regularly tested and she had a family member ensure she took it at the same time each day.
I was just thinking - this is a great example of how seperating health from psychiatry can totally change the fate of a person's entire life. Maybe the ER doctor had come across the situation before, perhaps by accident, or maybe he/she learned of it from a peer-based internet forum or group....Maybe he/she is just a great investigator..who knows...But I do know that hospital is not even known for the quality of its psychiatric care - they don't even have a full-time psychiatrist on staff.
Despite all her doctors and a neurologist, this woman was going to be placed in a nursing home-perhaps for the rest of her life-while she deteroriated. She had a neuro and psychiatrist...but Because_one_doctor connected health with medications-her fate totally changed.
She does have shaking and other parksinson-like symptoms as before, but is completely 'normal' again thanks to this one doctor.
I never knew Lithium-even at optimal blood levels-could effect someone like this. Hopefully someone else will make the connection and prevent this from happening to a dear family member or friend.
I wish you well with finding the answers about your tinnitus and other symptoms, your search for wellness...Don't give up :)
poster:violette
thread:951756
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20100615/msgs/952392.html