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Medication control

I have a delemia. HWD can no longer be in charge of taking his main pain med. He forgets when he takes it then takes more. I have started controlling the med bottle and omg it'd causing so much stress for him. I put his daily dosage out for him and as of late he's becoming more hostile and defiant. Name calling too. I hate it! He wants to control his med but he can't be trusted…i need suggestions! I was thinking to put a weeks worth in his bottle but I don't know

Comments

  • Stan2
    Stan2 Member Posts: 129
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    I use one of those one week pill boxes that has 7 different boxes, one for each day. But my situation is different, DW no longer even tries to take her meds unless I put them in a cup for her.

  • BPS
    BPS Member Posts: 320
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    This got me thinking about the days or our medication control. 5 years ago my wife was still doing pretty good but couldn't remember to take her pills and my mother lived with us in a mother in law apartment (she also had dementia) I would put my wife's pills in a bowl on the counter next to a packet of instant oatmeal so she would take them before she ate breakfast. Then I would put my moms pills in another bowl on the table across the room. Then I would go to work. At about 10:00 after I thought my wife would be up I would call her to make sure she took her pill and to remind her to take my moms pills over to her. Then on the way home from work I would call our adult daughter (that lived in a separate apartment not far from us) that is bipolar to argue with her to get her to take her pills. then go home and cook diner. Looking back those were the good old days. I know this doesn't help with your problem but it brought back memories.

  • wose
    wose Member Posts: 220
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    I had a heck of a time too. Hubby is very hostile and adamant. I first used the day of week box but still he would take Mon and Tues on the same day. So now before I go to sleep I put the morning pills on the counter in a little dish and then I do the same for afternoon and evening. He still yells and insists he capable but so far I’m standing my ground. I keep all his medicine in my bedroom.. hidden.

  • SDianeL
    SDianeL Member Posts: 1,980
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    I would not put a weeks worth in a bottle for him. He could overdose. My husband was also obsessed with his meds. I bought the weekly pill organizer with am-pm and told him we were both getting organized. I bought myself one too. Then I just took over doing them. I hid all the bottles and the sorter. When it was time for his meds, at breakfast and before bed, I would hand them to him and hand him a bottle of water in his other hand and stand there and watch him take them. At first he was upset but eventually stopped being upset. You might try blaming the doctor. The doctor said I have to watch you take this pill. Or can you tell him the doctor took him off of it but crush it and put in his food? Some pills cannot be crushed so check with the doctor or pharmacist.

  • trottingalong
    trottingalong Member Posts: 701
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    I bought the 7 day organizer which helped for awhile. Then it didn’t. So now the organizer is out if site and I bring his pills to him every night before bed. He still focuses on the pills themselves and wonders what they are and why he needs them.

  • harshedbuzz
    harshedbuzz Member Posts: 5,580
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    In this situation, with you having oversight/living with him/I might consider one of those automatic timed dispensers. You could even introduce it as "required to fight the opioid epidemic. This might divert his anger/frustration to the device rather than you being the pill-police.

    Another option would be to reach out to his prescriber and see if a prescription pain patch would be appropriate for his type and level of pain.

    HB

  • RetiredTeacher
    RetiredTeacher Member Posts: 168
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    My husband doesn't manage his meds, I do. I have a 7 day pill keeper that has boxes for am meds and pm meds. Every morning I fill tiny plastic storage containers with lids, one with am meds and one for pm meds. I hand him the small container at the appropriate time and watch him swallow his meds. For us it works bit he is not argumentative or hostile.

  • Belle60
    Belle60 Member Posts: 74
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    I have a monthly pill organizer just like everyone else. I set up a month's worth at a time. Sometimes he questions the number of pills or that some are duplicates but doesn't resist taking them. I just have to make sure he takes them. He gets distracted and will ask me what do I need to do with the pills. So I have started watching him take his pills.

  • LearningCurve
    LearningCurve Member Posts: 26
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    This might be a ridiculous idea as I am on a learning curve myself. Maybe throw is some close "look alike" candy pills… ask a PhmD if he has anything or could suggest something? I will follow your post, what a heck of a dilemma. xxx (hugs)

  • Maru
    Maru Member Posts: 157
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    All i can say is that is a lot of responsibillity. And, yet, here you are today. You sound as if you are mostly still intact. Kudos to you.

Commonly Used Abbreviations


DH = Dear Husband
DW= Dear Wife, Darling Wife
LO = Loved One
ES = Early Stage
EO = Early Onset
FTD = Frontotemporal Dementia
VD = Vascular Dementia
MC = Memory Care
AL = Assisted Living
POA = Power of Attorney
Read more