She starts by saying she's scared at 5 o'clock or so and then her muscles start to constrict in her arms and she complains of pain around her heart (give nitroglyceran for that often) and difficultly breathing. She's repeating statements like, I can't breathe, over and over, then says another sentence like, take me, take me, etc... You can't talk to her to get her to change the situation or calm down. I've tried nebulizer meds and symbicort inhaler and oxygen concentrator which she won't breathe through her nose to benefit and all of her pain meds on schedule only. I give her serquel, trazadone, and holdol on a regular schedule, also. I'm careful not to overload her with drugs but when these attacks happen nothing helps...nothing until I give her xanax at bedtime. So we have all evening to get through until then. It's tough on the whole family as it upsets everyone. She's been diagnosed with sundowning. Any advice, could this be Alzheimers, or Parkinson's as well. With everyone's experience please let me know what you think or what might help! Thank you!
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When's the last time she saw her cardiologist?
Thank you to all of you for your help. Will let you know she does the next few days. Will now be very interested to see what the neuro doc thinks about a diagnoses of parkinsons. She does have hallucinations and severe muscle rigidness but no tremors. I can't thank you enough.
Ask the doc to increase her Xanax to before the symptoms begin!!! ( Do not worry about addicition!! Just get her comfortable.!!!
Who diagnosed her with sundowning? Did they discuss dementia at that time? What kind of doctor prescribed all these drugs, and what is their purpose?
Haldol is an absolute no-no if the dementia happens to be Parkinson's or Lewy Body Dementia. So I think it would be critical at this point to have further evaluation and to learn (as far as possible) what kind of dementia she has.
Who prescribed the xanax? Why is it given at night, when she has the panic attacks in the afternoon? I'm not suggesting you change this on your own, but I think it is a fair question to ask the prescribing doctor. Is it to reduce risks of falling?
Why does she have SYMBICORT on hand? Does she have COPD?
Why does she have nitroglyceran on hand? Does she have coronary artery disease? Does it help to give her this med when she is having these symptoms?
Is the Seroquel prescription related to her dementia? Or does she have bipolar disorder or schizophrenia?
It sounds like your mother's health issues are complex.
Given those drugs and her sundowning behavior, I urge you to have her evaluated and followed by a SPECIALIST very familiar with dementia. This could be a geriatric psychiatrist or a behavioral neurologist. If there is a dementia clinic in your area, that might be a good bet.
If your mother is already being followed by such a specialist, I think it is time for a follow-up visit and a thorough review of her symptoms and medications.
I am especially worried about that haldol.
Clearly, her meds need to be adjusted by her doctor.