Overmedicated senior suffers from diarrhoea
DEAR DR. GOTT:<$> My mother, at the age of 93, is taking a combination of medicines including Tiazac, Lanoxin, Coumadin, Lasix and Zaroxolyn. She has frequent bouts of diarrhoea. My question is, are these medications formulated using aspartame, sucralose or sugar alcohols, which cause the same symptoms in other members of the family?
DEAR READER:<$> First off, I wonder why your mother of 93 is taking five powerful medications, any one of which could be associated with side effects, such as diarrhoea. I don’t know which, if any, of the drugs contain substances to which she could be allergic. I’m more concerned about the possible, serious side effects that this therapeutic stew could cause, primarily chemical interactions. Does she really need all this stuff?
Were I in her shoes, I would schedule an appointment with her doctor (making sure that you are present) to review the necessity of powerful diuretics (kidney stimulants), an anticoagulant and heart medications. As a patient, I would want to reduce my dependence on the pharmaceutical industry, preferring, instead, at 93, to have occasional eggs Benedict, a glass or two of wine with dinner and relief from my diarrhoea.
Of course, if I am wrong and her medications are, indeed, life-saving, then I apologise and take back what I said.
In my 40 years of practice, I’ve seen more than a few overmedicated seniors, some to the point of near death.
Thus, I want quality of life for myself. Perhaps your mother feels as I do.
If not, fine. But, if I’m assessing the situation accurately, what she needs is an informational conference with her physician to determine: 1.) What are your mother’s wishes for the future? 2.) Is she willing to stop (or reduce) some or all of her medications? 3.) Does she need to see a cardiologist who can assist her primary care physician in minimising or changing her current drug schedule?Because these are, for most families, challenging questions, please let me know what your mother decides and what alterations her doctor agrees to make.
DEAR DR. GOTT:<$> Since reading in your column that brown rice was better than white, my mate refuses to eat any rice except brown. He is in renal failure and restricts his intake of potassium and protein, so, if you were his doctor, what would you advise about choices of types of rice to eat?
DEAR READER: To my knowledge, brown rice (which is rich in fibre) is not contraindicated in the presence of kidney disease. However, I want to cover all the bases, so I urge you and/or your companion to run this by his nephrologist. Although I doubt that a problem exists, the prudent option is to check with the specialist.
To give you related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report “Kidney Disorders.”
Other readers who would like a copy should send a long, self-addressed, stamped envelope and $2 to Newsletter, PO Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to mention the title. If readers would like to contact Dr. Gott, they may write him through your newspaper or send their mail directly to Dr. Gott c/o United Media, 200 Madison Ave., 4th fl., New York, NY 10016. However, if readers want to request a newsletter, they should write to the Ohio address.
