Prescriptions and their side-effects...she wont take them!

United States
February 16, 2007 3:49am CST
I care for an 83yr old diabetic. shes a wonderful woman but can be incredibly stubborn. mostly when it comes to her medications. if she sees a commercial on tv for a medicine that sounds like one of hers she will there after claim that the side effects the commercial mentions are happening to her. she has plain stopped taking at least 2 of them so far. the last doctors visit (which she hates) the doctor said that her kidneys are starting to dump to much protein. dr. specifically told her this is due to the diabetes. BUT after we left the office, she claimed it was because of the prescriptions (she read the pamphlets) and that she doesnt think she should be taking any of them anymore. my question is: how do i convince her to keep taking the medication without sounding like im trying to "push her into it" like she feels the doctor is trying to do?
4 people like this
5 responses
• United States
21 Apr 07
I work in a nursing home. I am not a nurse or a cna but the way the nurse gives the medicine to those who don't want to take it is she puts it into applesauce after crushing it up. That may sound devious but not really because these older folks do need their medicine and if that is the only way. They try to convince them to take it by the mouth first. If all else fails this is the way they do their medicine giving.
2 people like this
• Philippines
24 Apr 07
this is an excellent way of giving those medicines. the ones who will be taking them will not notice the medicines at all, it is food that will be seen. how very innovative.
• Philippines
24 Apr 07
I don't have any idea as to whether you will get to read my entry considering that it has been months since you posted this discussion. Nonetheless, I am taking the risk. Make her eat a lot of fruits and vegetables. The good fruits will include grapes, apples, pineapples, papayas, guavas and melons like cantaloupes and others still of this kind. If coconut juice is available in your area, as well as, young coconuts those will do her much good, too. Green leafy vegetables will do her great. Synthetic medicines will give her many side effects, it is true. But if she will take much of these fruits and vegetables, she will be able to cope.
@24tulips (16)
• Canada
25 Feb 07
I would show her the things that she can do again when she becomes healthier from taking her meds(reward system is better!) What is it that she hates about taking them? I would stop telling her all the bad things and focus on the good! No one wants to be 'nagged' or to hear how sick they are - they already know! If you have to take medication, why don't you both take it together? Maybe she needs a common ground? (even if you just take vitamins!)
2 people like this
• United States
19 Mar 07
i have the reverse problem.my mom is from the "if one is good,3 is better" school.i had to lock up all her meds and dole them out to her.she had made herself toxic before. first thing i would do is try to keep her from seeing those commercials.if the doctor hasn't yet,he may have to sit her down and tell her the full consequences of not taking the meds. maybe a visit to a different doctor briefly would ease her mind if he comes to the same conclusion as the last doctor.
2 people like this
• Philippines
23 Apr 07
I have similar experience with my mother in law when i took care of her. She wants to stop some meds because of what she heard from relatives, friends, tv and radio, the side effects of continuing with the meds. What she feels is what she follows and brainwashes you that the meds the meds that the doctors prescribe are the ones thats making her sick.lol