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Too many meds?

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Migraine Headache
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Posted 6/28/2005 8:24 PM (GMT -6)
I am new to this forum. My husband has been a migraine sufferer for 30-plus years (he's 63). He's taken just about everything, seen many doctors, been hospitalized. His present list of drugs includes amitryptilene, topamax (both at bedtime), butalbital ("as needed"), fiorinal #3 with codeine, imitrex, depakote, and several meds for allergies. He has tolerated this fairly well until about a month ago when one morning about 2 hours after taking his morning meds, he became incoherent and falling asleep at the table. He went back to bed and slept for 3 hours and woke up and was okay. This has happened 3 more times, the last time at his office and I had to come pick him up. It's a wonder he didn't go to sleep at the wheel. He won't go to his doctor, preferring to try to "fix it" himself. He has been through detox once about 17 years ago and doesn't want to do that again. He yawns a lot and doesn't sleep well. I think he is getting up and taking pain pills in the night, and then forgetting that he's done that in the morning so he's getting a double dose. Has anyone had an experience like this? I and scared and really need some help. Thanks
Posted 6/28/2005 9:38 PM (GMT -6)
Welcome to this board. He really should go and see a Dr about him falling asleep like that. BUT it probably is his meds if he is taking the in the middle of the night. All those types of drugs can make you tired and groggy. I have taken certain drugs before that has made me feel a bit out of it. It is probablt the only time he gets from pain, when he can't remember it.

Hope someone on here can give you the suggestions that you would like.
Posted 6/29/2005 4:34 PM (GMT -6)

Hi Prowife. I can think of something to try, before contacting your husband's doctor. Count your husband's pain medicine before the two of you go to bed. Count it again in the morning. Or, put the medicine in a secret place where he can't get to them during the night. If he objects, tell him lovingly that you are very concerned about his health and want to be sure he sticks around for a long, long time.

I had a medicine change several years ago that caused me to sleep walk for several months. It was the most unsettling thing to wake up the next morning and discover things that I'd done during the night. When I told my doctor that I was sleep walking, he simply said, Lot's of people sleep walk. Don't worry about it.

I locked up my medicines, then worried that I'd figured out how to get to them during the night. (I never did.) I DID almost sleep walk right out of the house one night. We have an alarm that needs to be turned off at a keypad before opening the door. There I was, punching in the code. Fortunately, the beeping of the keypad woke me up and I went back to bed.

Doing things in a sleeping stage can be a scarey thing to discover later on. If your husband IS taking medicine during the night, he might try to find the medicine if you have hidden it. He might not even be aware that he's doing it. But he might finally agree that it's time for a trip to the doctor for a medicine check. Good luck!

~~Pegasis yeah

Posted 6/29/2005 10:16 PM (GMT -6)
Speaking about taking meds in the middle of the night....about 2 years ago I guess I must of got up to take some feorcet w/codiene some time during the night and i put them on my dresser with even closing the lid all the way (and I have no memory of doing so)and of course when i woke up i didnt remember anything about taking the meds...WELL ANYWAYS...my 1 year old found them....well I called 911 but it didnt appear she actaully digested any of them...but i found about 3 of them slobbered and melted up on the floor....And the weird thing about this story is that i was sitting on the couch in the livingroom while my daughter was doing this and all of the sudden it was like someone or something pushed me off the couch and told me to run to my daughter as fast as I can...it was very very weird....i ran so fast down the hall without knowing what i was looking for and found her probably just in time....i think it was a guarden angel or something..call me weird but truely think it was....since then i've learned to hide my meds from myself.....But i truely think it's possible to take medicines during hte night and not even remember.

-hellokitty22
Posted 6/30/2005 9:37 PM (GMT -6)

profwife

Sometimes it is easy to forget just what or how many meds you have taken when your list is as long as your husbands.  May I make a suggestion?  Buy one of those plastic pill boxes.  For the meds you are worried about fill the compartments with only what can be taken in 24 hours.  After 24 hours is up adjust it for the next 24 hours.  If this does not work you may think of a revision using the same "medicine keeper."  I hope something like this might help you.

droll

Posted 7/9/2005 11:22 PM (GMT -6)
profwife

I have not seen anymore posts from you. Did you find any suggestions here useful? Please let us know how things are going. Everyone here really does care!

droll
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