The manic behavior. Leave it alone?

waywardson

The Dr's have put mom on Olanzapine mostly for her paranoia. She is obsessed that her cousin (dead for more than a decade) was out in the carport with a suitcase stealing things. Two days ago. Always two days ago. This has been going on for months. I believe it is a false memory and not a hallucination. Regardless, the Olanzapine seems to have worked in some ways and not worked in others. (ain't that always the case)

Here is a very simple look at her day now. She sleeps late into the morning. Active breakfast. Watches TV in her chair snoozing until dinner time cranky and complaining about being tired. She eats dinner and becomes alert. Half the days, even offering to do the dishes. And then ... Almost every night, it begins. It starts simple enough. She's going into the back to get something and before I even notice she's been missing for any real time, she has emptied all her dresser drawers on to the bed, or pulled everything out of her closet, hidden her toothpaste (that one was last night) pulled all the soup cans out of the pantry, ... any million possible bits of loopyness. Generally hiding things from her cousin. Mostly, it's all harmless. She hid the house keys once. That was a big problem. Those, and other things are now kept in my end of the house. She cut her leg once climbing into a corner I doubt I could have gotten back into, and she has broken a couple of things including a picture frame, a hundred year old photo.

 Aside from the crazy chaos and the standard harm risks, (she can hurt herself washing the dishes too) it's the frenzy, the panic of it all that worries. It often goes full manic. I've tried stopping her and it ends in crying and swinging arms. I have let her go and she will literally work herself into a sweat. I have tried to distract but more often than not, I'll be at distracting her until midnight. Lately, this happens every night.

The question is, should I just let her be? Let her dementia world exist? Keep an eye on her to make sure she is safe and just let her be in the paranoia? I exhaust myself calmly telling her that everything is okay, everything is safe, I even try to convince her that her cousin is no longer a worry. I am afraid, and ashamed to say that my patience with this has a time or two even found an end and I've snapped and begged her to stop. Both of us ending in tears. Now when I start loosing it, I just walk away, leaving her to "hide all the yarn" for the 30th straight day. 

I don't know what to do. I don't know how dangerous this is. It's extremely stressful, yes, but but just how harmful is it? Is it something I just let happen or is this ... the thing? The thing that ... needs the discussion ... I have always said that she can life with me until I am unable to properly care for her or she is a danger to herself or others.

It's 10 am as I write this. She is still asleep. I am about to start breakfast. I dread how this day will end.

ST_niece

I’m so sorry. Your situation sounds frustrating.

If your LO is able to go for walks (ie, if there is someone available to take her), exercise and being outdoors might help. Even going for a drive can help.

If she is able to do chair yoga, there are some good videos on youtube. Some are done entirely while seated (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FrVE1a2vgvA ), and some incorporate standing (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4eCb3TFHnTg ) Either way, someone should be nearby in case of a problem. 

ST_niece

Also our doctor has prescribed Seroquel (quetiapine) to my LO for anxiety. I give a half-pill (12.5 mg) as needed, sometimes another if anxiety persists. 

It is a controversial drug, and is apparently often over-prescribed in care facilities. I believe exercise and engagement in activities (if individual is capable and willing) should be tried first, if possible. 

Neverends

Hello, Sundowning, It's awful same thing every  night.  My mother's sundowning  was dangerous, sounds like your there. I would not let her go thru her paranoid and delusional  rants. Someone will end up getting  hurt. My mother did. She was so agitated for whatever  crazy reason and she fell, banged her head off the windowsill and ended up.in the ER. No amount of reasoning or trying to  bring her back into to your world will work.  I've been dealing with this for many years. Sounds like mom needs a medication  adjustment. My mother is on Seroquel and I never miss a dose. It has been a gamechanger. She sleeps more but the alternative  is unacceptable. Hang in there.

​fesk

How long has your mom been on the Olanzapine and at what dose? It may take 4-6 weeks to see the full benefit and it may help to calm some of these behaviors. I believe Olanzapine can be effective for delusions as well as stabilizing mood. It may need more time or, after an appropriate amount of time, it may need a dose adjustment. It has been helpful for my mother's symptoms but we try to use the smallest effective dose and give it plenty of time to work before any adjustments are made.

It could also be that some of the behavior is a reaction to the Olanzapine if this is a new medicine for her or it may end up not being effective. Everyone reacts differently to these medicines. Seroquel and some others did not work well for us and they all have different side effects to watch out for.

I would try a combination of activity/exercise as mentioned while giving the medicine the time to reach its full benefit. Routine and aromatherapy may also help. Try to track all changes in behavior in relation to the medicine which should help guide your decisions to change dose or try a different medication.

abc123

This is a terrible situation for you both. You must be worn out by this point. You can not just let her go thru this because she could get hurt or someone else could be hurt. Does she has a geriatric psychiatrist? She needs a doctor who is well versed with dementia patients and prescribing antipsychotic meds. I looked up OLANZAPINE. This is what I found out.

~It takes 4 to 6 weeks to work properly however some people show a good effect within the first week of taking it.

~Before other symptoms improve it may make you more relaxed and calm.

~Common side effects listed were feeling dizzy, feeling sleepy and constipation.

~It is recommended to stay in contact with the doctor the first few weeks of starting this medication to report behaviors.

If you could share more info about your mother, people here can give you much better suggestions and info. Her age, diagnosis, her personality. We have many wise and experienced people here who can really help you. We are here to support each other and share knowledge. By sharing our experiences we are able to help others as well as ourselves.

I suggest, while she is asleep that you child proof the house. Move glass top tables, anything she could trip on like rugs or secure the rugs with tape. Move or get rid of anything a child could hurt himself or someone else with. Is there anything in her room or closet that she could get hurt with? Empty hangers, get them out. Check her bed, between the sheets, under the mattress and the bed itself. My MIL hid important papers and her meds in her bedroom in strange places. Also, gather up all important papers, documents and photo's and put them in a safe place. Keep checking back because others will come along who are very experienced with your situation. I am very sorry this disease has effected your family and your mom. It's a terrible disease. I wish you the best of luck. Hang in there! You are a warrior!

abc123

I just read your profile, thank you for sharing that important info. Please add your state. That helps our inhouse attorney specialist if you should need info regarding state laws with medicare/medicaid and other issues. A member named Crushed is truly trusted and highly respected here. Just so you know, I just gave him that title. We also refer to another member by the name of Ed as our Mayor. We are here to help each other as much as possible. This forum has kept me sane. 

She's 85 years old.

Diagnosed with Primary Progressive Aphasia with signs of dementia.