Where do I find "iodine drops" in the South Bay (So. California)? And how do I get my mother (88 and with dementia) to take them?

She had undergone a series of tests last November in a hospital ER, including an MRI. The doctor told me she had "unspecified dementia" and a "smaller brain." The psychiatrist directed her to take Mirtazapine and Quetiapine (this one, originally 25 mg., or one pill daily; now 3 pills daily). I was unable to get her to take those pills at all until she went to her regular doctor and he prescribed something else--for a urinary tract infection. She took that without argument, and I convinced her to take the other medications as well.

My husband took Quetiapine for nearly ten years after he was diagnosed with dementia. Yes, it was not developed for people with dementia. Yes, I have read it may have adverse effects. You know what? Having dementia has adverse effects. Until science has developed more effective treatments specifically for persons with dementia, we make do with what is currently available. In spite of the concerns about it, Quetiapine is often prescribed for some of the symptoms of dementia. It is very widely used in LBD, the kind of dementia my husband had, and nearly all the caregivers in my support group tried it with their loved ones. For some (like my husband) it was a godsend. For others it didn't seem to do anything. For some it caused unacceptable side effects. The problem is, there is no way to know without trying it how it will work for a particular individual.

For what symptom was the drug prescribed for your mother? How long ago? Does it seem to help that symptom?

From what I've read, iodine, strictly monitored medically, may be an appropriate treatment for thyroid problems, but there are many cautions and warnings about the dangers of overdosing. Self-prescribed supplements are generally discouraged.

Your mom's psychiatrist finished college and then went on to 8 more years of post-graduate study to become a physician and then to specialize in diseases of the brain. And you are willing to disregard the advice your mother got from the psychiatrist who saw her in person. Yet you are willing to try a "remedy" recommended by -- whom? -- someone who has never seen your mother, I suspect, and didn't spend 4+8 years in school to become a brain specialist and which has SERIOUS potential side effects.

My husband and my mother each had dementia. I understand the desperation to find something, anything, that will help. But don't let that desperation lead you into dangerous experiments without exhausting all well-studied answers first.

Your mother is 88. She has already outlived the life expectancy for the year she was born, and for the year she turned 65. If a drug risked the possibility of reducing her lifespan but ensured she had a better quality of life for the remainder of it, wouldn't that be a good trade? It was for my husband, in my judgment!

The only real question here, in my opinion, is whether the prescribed Quetiapine is providing improved quality of life. If it is not, ask the psychiatrist to try something else. Even ask them to supervise an iodine experiment if you are convinced that is a good idea. But accept that there are no perfect dementia treatments, and that the best we can do is use what is available to us.

I'm not sure where you read the advice to supplement with iodine but I haven't read anything on line about it's effectiveness in treating delusions. If the Quetiapine (seroquil) works why would you mess with that? If you are seeing side effects you might ask about lowering the dosage or frequency first.

"Iodine deficiency is rare, but some people supplement their diets with iodine drops for a variety of health reasons, and this practice can be dangerous. Iodine, a trace mineral, is necessary for making thyroid hormones, healthy thyroid gland function, and for healthy growth and development. Between 70 and 80 percent of iodine is located in the thyroid gland in your neck, while the rest is found elsewhere in your body such as your blood, muscles and ovaries.

"Dangers of Iodine Drops
Using iodine drops or other supplements to increase iodine levels can be hazardous to your health, as too much iodine disrupts thyroid gland function. Also, large quantities of iodine over a prolonged period of time can lead to symptoms such as a metallic taste in your mouth, headaches, eye irritation, sore teeth and gums, and a burning sensation in your mouth. Other symptoms include irregular heartbeat, numbness or weakness in your hands and feet, and unusual fatigue.

"Dosage
Iodine drops should be taken under a doctor’s supervision, as the recommended dose varies depending on the condition you’re trying to treat. In general, to treat an overactive thyroid gland, adults can take 250 mg of iodine oral solution three times daily, according to MayoClinic.com. Children’s doses should be determined by a doctor. To treat radiation exposure, adults may be prescribed 2 ml of potassium iodide solution, while children between ages 3 and 18 can take 1 ml, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, potassium iodide should be taken only under direction from a state or local public health official.

"Amount of Dietary Iodine Needed
For general health, it’s safer to get your daily dose of iodine from food. Aside from iodized salt, food sources of iodine include garlic, lima beans, sesame seeds and green leafy vegetables such as spinach and Swiss chard. The upper daily limit of iodine for children ages 1 to 3 is 200 mcg of iodine; for children ages 4 to 8, it’s 300 mcg, according to Beck. For children ages 9 to 13, the upper daily limit is 600 mcg and for children ages 14 to 18 it’s 900 mcg. Adults 19 and over can have a maximum of 1,100 mcg daily.

From Livestrong.com (www.livestrong.com/article/448272-are-iodine-drops-dangerous/) KAY UZOMA Oct. 03, 2017