Stemetil Tablets

[annieigma]

my 91 year old mother was in reasonable health until 5 weeks ago. She caught a terrible chesty cold which lasted for 3 weeks. It has left her almost unable to walk, She has pains in Her legs and shoulders and is very dizzy, and she is very confused ( prior to this she walked into town and back every day and Her mental state was good). I made an appointment with the local doctor and He prescribed stemetil 5 mg.tablet. 3 times a day. He commented that the cold thing had been a terrible virus that had been going around. We are just a week into the tablets, but she is now very drowsy and has lost the will to go out.
I am a bit concerned because the table info ( I know sqad will say ignore it) says not to be taken if you are over 65. She is 91. Anyone had any dealings with these tablets. I am a bit worried as the doctor in question has a bit of a bad reputation, in fact the mobile hairdresser reckons He was responsible for the death of 22 pensioners in the old peoples home, a mass murderer no less.
Should i change Doctors for a second opinion or let the tablets run their course?

[CoffeeLounge]

I was prescribed the same tablets just before Christmas. I was diagnosed with vertigo. I had been suffering for approx 5 weeks with dizzy spells. Dr said vertigo is caused by an inner (I think) ear infection. My neighbour also took them for the same reason and she had drowsiness. She is only in her early 30's.
I read the info and was concerned as it said could cause drowsiness. As I have my own business I did not want to feel drowsy at work. Also said not to drink alchohol. So I never bothered to take them. The vertigo went on its own.

[Sqad]

Stemetil 5mgms tree times a day is a big " hit" for a 91 yr old woman and I am not surprised that she is drowsy. I would discontinue the tablets completely and monitor the situation. At 91 she will take time to get over the infection.
The alternative would be to seek another opinion, but in any case I would discontinue the stemetil.

[boxtops]

I take stemetil (prochlorperazine) when I need to, to help with the confused and dizzy feeling I get when a migraine is coming on. I find them very efficient, I take 2 x 5mg four-hourly.

The leaflet in my current packet says that there is a lower dose which can be prescribed fro the elderly.

I do think your hairdresser needs to be very careful in spreading slanderous rumours like that - if they have proof, they should go to the police.

If I were you, I would go and see another doctor just for a second opinion - is there another doctor in that practice? If not (sqad will know what I am going to say) take your concerns to your local pharmacist, who is well versed in side effects of medication, and ask their advice.

[boxtops]

Did he give you something else, desky? It doesn't seem to be getting any better, does it?

[annieigma]

Thank you sqad, I was just discussing taking the tablets away, and then read your posting. I will stop them from tomorrow and monitor the situation for another week and change Doctors. ( He really has a bad name, but his staff and practise nurse are really nice to Mum) I will enquire further with the hairdresser and see what killed off 22 residents of the nursing home, but I doubt if it was something the Doctor did or did not do, and over what period of time. Hairdressers do gossip, if its not holidays its Illness problems.

[Mamyalynne]

The hairdresser needs to be very careful spreading such stories.

[annieigma]

Hi,
Yes, She has had two bad run ins with this doctor, Her Brother is special needs and the doctor refused to come out when He was having an episode and beat Her up, and she had a breast lump that He frightened the life out of Her by saying " its probably cancer, so prepare yourself" It wasn;t, it was a fibroid, so she has an axe to grind. But She should not spread rumours , I agree.