Medical treatment using a combination of drugs?

Question

My elderly Mother has recently been admitted to hospital with suspected renal failure. She had been prescribed the following medicines by her GP,Furosemide, Digoxin, Ramipril, Rosiglitazone, Gliclazide, Atenolol, Allopurinol, Aspirin & Cyclizine. She had been admitted two weeks previously complaining of stomach and chest pains. I have written to the GP concerned who refuses to reply. I would like to know what effect the drugs listed would have as each was to be taken 4 times a day i.e. a total of 36 tablets daily. Please help.

Answer 1

Furosemide is a diuretic, it gets rid of "fluid" in the body, often from the lugs or lungs from heart failure. It is usually taken once or twice a day.

Digoxin in a drug to try and slow down an irregular heartbeat, taken once a day.

Ramipril is a bood pressure lwering tablet, taken once a day

Rosiglitazone is a diabetes drug ususally taken once a day.

Gliclazide is a very popular diabetic drug taken up to twice a day.

Atenolol is called a beta blocker and reduces blood pressure and can slow the heart a little. Usually taken once a day.

Allopurinol is used to prevent gout.

Aspirin in used to prevent platlet aggregation in the blood (in effect thining the blood, but not that simple) and is very effective in reducing heart disease. It is take once a day.

Cyclazine is a anti-sickness tablet taken 3 times a day. It has some sedative properties.

This is quite a typical drug list for an eldery person, seen with many, many people.

You have not mentioned ANY doses.

A person taken all these drugs 4 time a day is NOT reading the instructions on the packet or those given to them by their GP. They could suffer many effects from extreem low blood pressure to low blood sugar reading.

Souind like this person needs a medication review to me, with an understanding relative to help her understand what she should b taking. Prehaps a daily pill box would help.

Answer 2

First, how did his employer find out? There's no reason an employer needs to know about medical conditions and prescription medications unless they are interfering with the job. However, for whatever reason the cat is out of the bag... If the employer find that the medication is interfering with job performance, then he can be let go. If not, then this would be discrimination and your husband would have a legitimate wrongful termination suit. In that case, expect the company to have an expert witness that testifies that vicoden has effects that last longer than just "overnight." Your lawyer will have an expert to show that this is not the case. And so on. All of this said, he should immediately check the company's policy manual. There will definitely be sections related to drugs (I'll bet that it contains the modifier "illegal" though) and a section related to conditions which impair the ability to do the job. This issue should then be raised to HR. If this is a small company (e.g., the boss is the owner), then their might not be policies and he will have little recourse but to allow himself to be fired and to file a lawsuit. Note that, should this be the case, you can bet that every tiny mistake or mistep he takes will be documented in an attempt to show that, yes, he was impaired. So, advice is, he's better off getting fired sooner rather than later, so that such a file cannot be padded.

Answer 3

There's no way that each has to be taken 4 times a day.
I would more carefully read the instructions on your mother's pills.
Atenolol is a beta blocker meant to keep the heart rate down, once a day.....unless otherwise prescribed
Aspirin should only be taken once a day.....
The glitazone is for diabetes
Furosemide is a loop diuretic to reduce water
Digoxin is a heart failure helper
ramipril is an ace inhibitor.
sounds like your mom is diabetic, high blood pressure, and in heart failure.
Her kidneys are going probably secondary to all of that.
Check out the pills.
They aren't all to be taken 4 times a day, perhaps that is your mom's problem.
Also HIPPA laws forbid a doc to talk about a patient, unless the patient releases the info.

Answer 4

Your mother has both high blood pressure & type 2 diabetes, so this explains the need for the frusemide,ramipril,atenolol, gliclazide & rosiglitazone. In addition, many elderly patients are given aspirin once a day as this has been shown to be beneficial to the heart in trials. Her allopurinol is to treat gout, digoxin treats atrial fibrillation or heart failure & the cyclizine will help with nausea.
Most of these drugs are NOT to be taken four times a day, so she should not be taking so many tablets; your mother may be confused - this is understandable. Are you completely sure it is the tablets making her feel unwell?
You will need your mother's consent for her GP to comment on her treatment, as that is confidential information - maybe that is the way forward. Or you could ask your local pharmacist for their opinion on dosages & frequency of your mother's medication (take the boxes with the dosage labels on). Particularly ask in reference to aspirin & gout.....They will also be able to help you select a box system for you to help measure out your mothers tablets into daily doses for her, this ensures she is taking the right mediactions at the right time.
Good luck.

Answer 5

Many common natural remedies are claimed to have blood sugar lowering properties that make them useful for people with or at high risk of diabetes. Learn here https://tr.im/0M425

A number of clinical studies have been carried out in recent years that show potential links between herbal therapies and improved blood glucose control, which has led to an increase in people with diabetes using these more 'natural' ingredients to help manage their condition.

Answer 6

Why not talk to a pharmacist? They are the drug experts.
Take the medication with you, together with the instructions you were given.
Every pharmacy has a pharmacist, some even have private rooms to discuss the medication that has been prescribed.
Your poor mum sounds quite ill.

Answer 7

I don't know what effect the drugs would have, it sounds as if your poor mum has blood pressure and heart trouble, my parents took some of the drugs you mention for these complaints.

If the doctor refuses to answer your query you could contact the local health authority, or get in touch with NHS Direct (the number should be in the phone directory) They answer all sorts of queries.

Answer 8

SOME DRUGS HELP BUT 36 A DAY. PILLS TAKE LONGER TO GO THROUGH AN OLDER PERSON THAN A YOUNGER PERSON. I THINK DR. GIVE WAY TOO MUCH DRUGS. IF SHE'S IN THE HOSPITAL OR NURSING HOME YOU DON'T HAVE MUCH SAY, BUT IF YOUR TAKING CARE OF HER, YOU CAN CUT DOWN ON SOME OF THESE. A LOT OF THESE DON'T REACT WELL WITH OTHER MEDS. YOU CAN LOOK THEM UP ON THE NET. I'VE SEEN PEOPLE CONFUSED BECAUSE OF ALL THE DRUGS THY WERE TAKING.

Answer 9

A similar thing has just happened to my mum ask to see the pharmacist for a medicine review and also bloods taken the furosimide can effect potassium levels so get her blood done right ask for the u and e and also esr that was told for me to do please don;t take no for an answer as I stuck my ground and it did help am not medically trained STICK YOUR GROUND you only have 1 mum the doctors have lots of patients good luck and take care

Answer 10

furosemide (lasix) is a diuretic to prevent fluid overload, digoxin is to improve contractility of the heart muscle, atenolol is to control her blood pressure to prevent strokes, aspirin thins the blood to prevent blood clots, allopurinol is for gout.....your mother has several health problems which occurs with age.............people are living longer now due to the combination of drugs....my great grandmother died of congestive heart failure at a young age...36 due to lasix or other antidiuretics had not been discovered yet...medical science has improved greatly in the past 50 years.....if you wish to research all this go to your local community college and check out books on geriatric diseases and drug handbooks.........also a book on medical terminology so you will have a better understanding of the terms used.......hope this info helps you........