How old are you, and how do "PM" medicines impact you? (state, friend)

[Serious Conversation]

My grandmother called me on Friday with a disturbing bit of information.

She'll be turning either 84 or 85 in two days, and stays alone in her home about half the time now, and with my widowed aunt about half the time.

She apparently took some sort of Nyquil like product (she said she knows she is not supposed to take these with other meds she is on) with a sedative effect Thursday night. She called my aunt Friday, but my aunt didn't answer because she was at work. She called me mid-morning Friday and I was off, and she started panicking telling me that she had slept through the weekend and that it was Monday morning. She also said she woke up in the guest bedroom, had no memory of going in there, and just plopped down on the bed and didn't turn the covers down.

She's been staying with my aunt since Friday and just seems "fuzzy" mentally. Aunt says she's been sleeping a lot. Dad and I were over there yesterday to help aunt with something, and grandma got us mixed up - that's never happened before.

Aunt is going to see if she improves over the next day or so, and if not, take her to the doctor to check for UTI or what else might be going on. It seems very odd that days after taking the sedative, she still seems off.

[fluffythewondercat]

Does your grandmother have high blood pressure?

[PAhippo]

not really. the older you get the slower your metabolism so drugs take more time to leave the system.


But, yes, you might take her to the doctor. If she knew she shouldn't have taken that med as you stated, there's probably a reason. The dr might give her an alternate suggestion.

[Clemencia53]

That stuff is awful.

And yea not recommended if you have high blood pressure

I use baby Benadryl - liquid form. A tiny sip will knock me out. Less than a teaspoon.

Why did she take it?

[NewbieHere]

I haven’t used Benadryl for years now. They can be addictive. I did when my oldest child was a baby. My body got worse not better.

[in_newengland]

There's a whole list of medications that older people are not supposed to take. One is Benadryl. I'd have to google the others, but anyway, there are a few of these lists out there. Drs are supposed to know too. Most of the medications interfere with cognitive ability.

[PNW-type-gal]

Consider finding your grandmother a gerontologist instead of a family practitioner. There really is a difference.

[Clemencia53]

Originally Posted by NewbieHere

I haven’t used Benadryl for years now. They can be addictive. I did when my oldest child was a baby. My body got worse not better.

I only use it when my allergies act up and Flonase won't stop it. Thankfully only maybe twice a year.

I've been sneezing in the mornings, but just wait it out. Clears up after an hour or so.

[NewbieHere]

Originally Posted by Clemencia53

I only use it when my allergies act up and Flonase won't stop it. Thankfully only maybe twice a year.

I've been sneezing in the mornings, but just wait it out. Clears up after an hour or so.

I used to have allergies, I don’t anymore. But I had itches, rashes in the past, I used acupuncture instead.

[jaminhealth]

A friend took some nyquil product and her housemate found her dead. She had a heart issue and took meds. She was 80something. I won't touch that stuff. I take all natural sleep aids that I've talked about so much around here and have posts in Alt Med ...I'm 81