Side Effects?

[prendi]

My 88yr old aunt has been prescribed Bisoprolol,Digoxin and Apixaban tabets for heart failure.She has been taking them for 4/5weeks and has started having terrible hallucinations.There are cats all over her house ans people with no faces.She is absolutely terrified as she lives on her own.the docs don't seem to believe us when we say it is the tablets that is causing them,but she was fine before she started on the tabs.has anyone ever had these hallucinations on these meds?she is in hospital at the moment and im afraid they may take her to the phsych ward,thanks.

[dunnitall]

Could be the combination effect of all three together. Have you looked up side effects for taking with other tablets as it might give an indication?

[237SJ]

I`m not an expert but Bisoprolol is a beta blocker which is adrenaline related so I can`t see why hallucinations would be connected with that. I don`t know about the other drugs but the symptoms sound like those of dehydration to me. Older people do can become confused and suffer hallucinations when they are dehydrated.

[Ann]

Maybe Sqad will help in the morning?

[anneasquith]

and/or infection ?

[237SJ]

BTW - did the symptoms start when she commenced taking the drugs or have they started recently?

[prendi]

thanks for the info,i keep telling her to drink more fluids,and yes the patient leaflet does mention hallucinations,i think she may be allergis to the Bisoprolol but the doc has taken her off all 3 to see what happens.

[anneasquith]

ANN, there may be some other abers who could give some advice apart from sqad ? ( I do not include myself in this group )

[Ann]

I'm quite happy to ask advice from Sqad, as a retired doctor he is always very helpful. I know there are others who can help, I appreciate those answers too, but I really like to ask Sqad personally. Is there anything wrong in doing that?

[237SJ]

I suppose that if your aunt has heart failure then there might not be as much oxygen getting around her system which can cause confusion (that is why elderly passengers on aircraft on long flights get very confused) I think the doctor has done the right thing in taking her off her medication so that he can gauge the situation.

[Sqad]

I agree with the comments of 237SJ.
The drug treatment given to your aunt is well established and commonly used and i have never heard of the side effects that you mention.
She will certainly be investigated for organic causes of her hallucinations before any thought of transference to a Psychiatric ward.

[saintpeter48]

There was a phone in yesterday on BBC Radio Five Live on this very subject! Check the BBC web site, I think it was the Victoria Derbyshire programme from 10am to 12. It is called 'Charles Bonnet Syndrome', look it up on google, it may give you more insight.

[saintpeter48]

Here is the link, http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0208kjx

[anneasquith]

I think the '' Charles bonnet '' syndrome is experienced by people who have sight loss. ( maybe wrong though ) :)

[prendi]

thanks very much for all the advice,i went to see her today and she was very confused,and still seeing the cats,funnily enough the nurse did say her oxygen levels were quite low.they now "think" that she has a water infection too:(((,I will keep you informed of her progress,thanks to you all.

[anneasquith]

good of you to return prendi, I hope she improves soon...

[prendi]

well not good news on my Aunt,went to see her today and she is just staring into space and rambling on about old times.she is not eating or drinking and the nurses are not bothering with her! when we asked if she should be on a drip they said we will see what the blood tests say.we have tried to feed her but she wont have anything,what can we do? it looks like they are just waiting for her to die,it is really upsetting she was quite normal when she went in there and has gone downhill very fast.by the way the water infection has been ruled out so where do we go from here?

[anneasquith]

ask to talk to a doctor, and don't leave until you have been seen.

[marval]

I agree, insist on seeing the doctor, she should not be left like that. Make as much fuss as you need too, her welfare must be top priority. I hope things can change for the better.

[prendi]

we tried to feed her but she wouldn't have it,if we hadn't been there they would have thrown her salad tea at her and left it there.she tried to eat with a knife and put it 1/ 2 way down her throat,then gave her a red hot cup of tea to drink!! im just glad we were there to see it.today she soiled herself all over and now they have put a catheter in,i suppose so she wont be calling them to take her to the toilet.it is very degrading for her as she is a very proud lady,luckily she doesn't know what is going on.

[anneasquith]

unfortunately prendi what you describe is not an isolated issue in today's NHS. ensure the family ' make themselves known ' to the staff. if you are aware of poor standards of care, address them at the time,