Medication Query

[Rockrose]

Dear MIL mentioned that she had been put on an anti Epilepsy drug - but that she's not suffering from epilepsy,
Also whilst going through her medication recently i noticed that when I googled it the blurb said it was an anti psychotic. Now she eventually admitted to going to the dr and saying she was a little depressed over the pain that she was in and that she feels the NHS are not doing enough for her - would they give her such strong anti depressants for someone a little depressed?
She currently takes 15 different medications and painkillers daily and to be frank given what we discovered when over recently i am beginning to think she has either lost it or loves to be centre of attention!

[BagPussAA]

I am on amytriptiline as well as an anti epilepsy drug called Topirimate for my Migraines. Lots of drugs can be originally for one reason and taken for another.

[woofgang]

my answer stands. She does not consent for her GP to tell you things but she cannot stop you telling the GP things.

[Rockrose]

Thanks woofgang - I think perhaps a call to her doctor is in need!
I am concerned about her driving - she claims that she can't walk due to the pain and struggles to put 1 foot in front of the other even around the house but thinks its OK to get behind the wheel of a car!

[andres]

No wonder she's confused . Anyone taking 15 medications in a day needs to study the interactions of each of them against the others. Side effects etc. You need to get the doctors to review her medication.

[Rockrose]

andres - I know that she was on HRT for over 30 years without a review!!
She is shocking and her doctor is as well - but at the end of the day - if her eldest son is not concerned I am not sure what I can do as only her DIL - but I also know it was me who spent the week sorting out the mess!

[albaqwerty]

Has your OH told his brother he is concerned and they both need to do something about their mother?
You've got enough to handle without MIL being added to the burden.
How often does your BIL interact with his mother?
Just curious, cos if it's daily he may not notice any changes they way one does if it's say, weekly contact?

[woofgang]

If you think that her driving is a risk to herself and to others, then definitely a call to the GP! You can also talk directly to the DVLA in confidence if talking to the GP fails. https://live.email-dvla.service.gov.uk/w2c/en_gb/forms/EFTD%20Enquiry?button=none&decision=I+have+concerns+over+a+person%27s+fitness+to+drive+and+I+wish+to+tell+the+DVLA&lang=en_gb

[Rockrose]

Every couple of weeks he goes to see her - he thinks its just an age issue!

[andres]

Does she take the medicines herself or does someone give them to her? Just asking because when I worked in the NHS day care centre we would often get patients coming in drugged up and confused because they were taking their night meds. in the morning and vice versa.

[Jackdaw33]

BagPuss @13.24:

...The classic example being Viagra!

[Rockrose]

Andres - she takes them herself - does not have a home help at all and wouldn't because she is too tight to pay for help!