About a month ago at a doctor check up (parent had been more tired than usual, had a couple mornings with difficulty walking), doc put mom on blood pressure medicine. Her pressure before had been slightly elevated often, but no medicine. I'm not sure if the medicine is working, or making her even more tired. More importantly, at this point I question should we be adding medications at this point? She is still physically walking on her own (though getting slower) and pocketing food, otherwise still seems ok with the level of dementia. Thoughts? If the medicine makes her sleep all day, that doesn't seem like quality of life anymore.
The doctor may have been concerned that your mother's difficultly walking a couple of mornings might be an indication of TIAs or mini-strokes. Blood pressure is at its highest in the early hours of the morning when most strokes occur. Some blood pressure medicines do make you feel tired at least until your body adjusted to the "new normal" blood pressure. I suggest checking all of mom's medicines and see how many have a drowsiness side effect. Discuss your concerns with the doctor in a call or on the next visit; medications or dosages may need adjustment, Please do not discontinue the medication without at least a call to the doctor's office since discontinuing some medications results in an immediate spike in blood pressure with a high risk of stroke.
Personally I would not withhold medications for basic conditions like congested heart failure, COPD, blood pressure, thyroid, and diabetes even in advanced dementia patients because of the discomfort level these conditions can cause when not treated.
This is not inevitable. People have a right to determine how they live and how they die. Period.
I believe eve in the appropriate use of medication but at some point one should step back and look at your mom’s health and well being and maybe discuss not prescribing it.
That said, all medications given for the heart are not only meant to lower BP For instance - ACE inhibitors- ie Lisinopril - which is given for the medications other value of shunting blood to major organs as a preventative measure. I’ve seen several people on doses of 2.5mg not for BP control but their ACE effect to shunt blood to vital organs (ie the kidneys).
Everyone is different. Work with your mother’s doctors to maintain her current level of function. I would seriously question the addition of any new medication and, IF then, only with a lot of thought, research and asking her PCP if quality of life could be challenged - specifically increasing her risk of a fall at home.