Refusing to take meds

tonyac2

This is a new problem for us. My DH is pitching a FIT when it’s time to take his meds. He absolutely refuses to do so. I’m probably not doing this right, but I beg him to take them for his dr’s sake. Last night I begged him to take them for Cody, that’s the dog. He did.
He started chewing them a few weeks back, so I started crushing them and using pudding/applesauce. Still a fight. I’m going to talk to all of the prescribing docs and see which pills he absolutely must take and eliminate ones that don’t make sense anymore.
What has worked for others? Why does everything about this dang disease have to be so difficult?

Scooterr

Good ideal to eliminate meds that are no longer needed, after consulting DH physicians. I too done the same thing, the only problem I did run into was that some of my DW physicians did not want to. Even though I knew the medication was no longer working (it was part of their money game). So that being said, I took it upon myself to start cutting her back on those meds I knew was no longer working (which involved a long process of weaning her off those meds.) which I was glad I did. Is your DH cognitive to knew you're crushing his meds and putting them in his food? Is he seeing you crush the meds and putting them in his pudding and apple sauce? If so you may have to make sure he is not watching and you may have to switch food also, maybe yogurt, or ice-cream. I had the same problem with DW that you're having with your DH. And yes you're right everything with this disease is difficult.

marier

My DH started balking at taking much needed medication a few years ago. I started agreeing he didn't need medication and then removed a one or two pills from the mix. Those pills were vitamins I had placed with the other needed medication. Once I removed the vitamins he was compliant for awhile then when he refused all meds I began crushing and placed in food without his knowledge. I also found just walking away and agreeing he didn't medication and then trying in about 30 minutes later worked for awhile too. It is hit and miss. What works one day may not work the next.

Metta

This has been an occasional hiccup for us as well. Marier's suggestion to walk away and try later has worked. If it becomes a fight, DH will never give in. If I avoid a conflict, keep a happy tone, and drop the subject to try again in an hour, that has worked.

Dio

There was a time when DH wouldn't take his meds, too, claiming that they were just placebos. This was before he was diagnosed with dementia. I just thought he was being difficult on purpose. So I slammed the meds on the table, pushed them toward him and said, "Here are your meds. Take them or leave them. Up to you. I did my job," and I walked away. I think he ended up taking them, but it was such a drawn out drama each time. I was exhausted emotionally. But this phase did pass, thankfully.

tonyac2

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/253667#Comment_253667

As soon as he sees a spoonful of pudding/applesauce he wigs out. I’m trying to figure out the root of the opposition but not getting anywhere. This AM, saying will you take them for the dog worked again. I hate med time.

Rick4407

I also used applesauce and pudding for meds. But it was always something we both had. After lunch or after dinner we both had a "treat" my DW's always had the meds. Doing things together seemed to make it normal. Rick

Quilting brings calm

My mom had an undiagnosed UTI at the beginning of her dementia journey. She started refusing her meds because she was sure we were poisoning her. It didn’t matter if we set the pill reminder tray in front of her, or took the pills from the tray and attempted to hand them to her. She would take them if one of her friends or a visiting nurse handed them to her. We had a visiting nurse because the doctors said her health was failing. Eventually a different set of doctors diagnosed her with urosepsis. Once she was treated, we didn’t have any more issues with meds.