Mom has anxiety, agitation, urgency and now dementia. She has been making poor decisions, and has always been obsessive, compulsive, and even discontent. She is a good person, but difficult. Now with dementia she is about to sell her second home and buy a third. She always wears us down. She caused my dad to sell the home he loved. He is gone now, but yesterday she nearly had us convinced to give her car keys back. We didn't, but what is wrong with us? We are hostages to her illness. In her anger she can argue and articulate well, and cry. So how would you define first her behavior? And then ours? I am looking for some precise words or descriptions, medical or common, to help me process these thoughts and questions. We are legally close to having help and a solution to this problem. If we don't get help, we will continue to live this life of battling and managing her behavior. We cannot.
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Seroquel (quetiapine) is an antipsychotic medicine. It works by changing the actions of chemicals in the brain.
Seroquel is used to treat schizophrenia in adults and children who are at least 13 years old. It is also used to treat bipolar disorder (manic depression) in adults and children who are at least 10 years old.
Seroquel is also used together with antidepressant medications to treat major depressive disorder in adults. Never take Seroquel in larger amounts, or for longer than recommended by your doctor. High doses or long-term use can cause a serious movement disorder that may not be reversible. Symptoms of this disorder include tremors or other uncontrollable muscle movements, ( Tardive dyskinesia is a side effect of antipsychotic medications. These drugs are used to treat schizophrenia and other mental health disorders. TD causes stiff, jerky movements of your face and body that you can't control. You might blink your eyes, stick out your tongue, or wave your arms without meaning to do so. Not everyone who takes an antipsychotic drug will get it. But if it happens, it’s sometimes permanent. So let your doctor know right away if you have movements you can't control. Your doctor may be able to lower the dose or switch you to a different drug to ease your symptoms.
*****Seroquel is not approved for use in psychotic conditions related to dementia.
Seroquel MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF DEATH IN OLDER ADULTS WITH DEMENTIA RELATED CONDITIONS. ******
Avoid getting up too fast from a sitting or lying position, or you may feel dizzy. Dizziness or severe drowsiness can cause falls, fractures, or other injuries.
Psychiatric;
Very common (10% or more): Discontinuation syndrome (Dizziness, vertigo or ataxia (problems with muscle coordination), Paresthesia (tingling or pricking of your skin), numbness, electric-shock-like sensations, Lethargy, headache, tremor, sweating or anorexia, Insomnia, nightmares or excessive dreaming, Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea,
Irritability, anxiety, agitation or low mood) (12.1%), and agitation (up to 20%.)
Common (1% to 10%): Anxiety, depression, irritability, hypersomnia, abnormal dreams, aggression, suicidal ideation and behavior.
Nervous system;
Very common (10% or more): Somnolence (up to 57%), dizziness (up to 18%), headache (21%)
Common (1% to 10%): Hypertonia, incoordination, tremor, speech disorder, ataxia, lethargy, paresthesia, extrapyramidal disorder, balance disorder, hypoesthesia, restless leg syndrome, hypersomnia, tremor.
Genitourinary;
Common (1% to 10%): Urinary tract infection.
WARNING: INCREASED MORTALITY IN ELDERLY PATIENTS WITH DEMENTIA-RELATED PSYCHOSIS; and SUICIDAL THOUGHTS AND BEHAVIORS.
Elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis (a severe mental disorder in which thought and emotions are so impaired that contact is lost with external reality), treated with antipsychotic drugs are at an increased risk of death. Seroquel is not approved for the treatment of patients with dementia-related psychosis [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)].
I'm not suggesting that her problem is from the Seroquel. However there could be some correlation. Good luck.
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A good geriatric psych will try different drugs with your mother until you find one or a combination that makes her comfortable and content as possible. I hope you can find the right mix, if only for your own sanity.
Or did they confirm that she had dementia?
"And then ours?" Manipulated.
She keeps asking the OP why she can't live alone, but calls OP 20 times a day, saying there are intruders, emergencies. Pretty sad situation and very wearing.
You've managed to end the driving. Don't even think of giving the keys back. You can get docs and experts to diagnose you and your mom, come up with clinical names, but what really matters is that you stand up to her emotional tricks. Have you considered counseling?
What is wrong with us? Nothing that a little tough love won't cure.
PS: just re read your post while proofing.
Legally close to having help and a solution? Can you elaborate?
In my mom's journey through Mild Cognitive Impairment and then Vascular Dementia, we found the geripsych to be the folks who understood the whole person best.
Medication of my mom's depression and anxiety helped enormously.
When someone tries to convince you to do something that you know is harmful and you have trouble saying no to, it's often a matter of lack of good psychological boundaries.
Folks with narcissism, folks with Borderline Personality Disorder are examples of folks who will try to wear you down into doing what THEY want, even if you know it's not in your or their best interest.
You may need some help in developing those boundaries and the ability to say
" no" firmly.
Mom may tantrum, or cry. Just let her. If she has dementia, she probably won't "learn" from this. But you do need to keep her safe.