Could medicine interaction cause mom slurred speech and drooling?

Fraulein, It's certainly worth checking with her physician on the meds. This happened to my mother. She had recently been switched from Xanax to Klonapin for anxiety. The doctor took her off Klonapin and her voice and level of alertness cleared up quickly. She still has incidences of it when she's tired, but now it's rare.

HI Fraulein,
Yes, the slurred speech and drooling could be caused by medications. So could the headaches, though it's very wise to get her eyes taken care of, as well. A pharmacist may be able to help you and the doctor decide which drug she takes may be most likely to be causing the symptoms. The only reliable way to tell would be to try eliminating one drug at a time, and you should only do that with the doctor's help.
Real time makes a point in that if a medication change happened shortly before the symptoms, the new drug could be the likely culprit.
You sound as though you're taking good care of your mom. Work with the professionals and you'll know that you're doing the best for her that you can.
Take care,
Carol

Another thing maybe worth checking into would be the possiblility your Mom has experienced a small stroke? The slurring of speech and headaches would be a possible sign. My aunt was experiencing many headaches, and her speech became slurred. She'd had a small stroke. Later more strokes, which eventually led to her death. So, just a possiblility that a CT Scan could rule out. Best of luck.

YES I DO. Stop all meds unless it very immortant. Trust me my mother is 90 don't look it just eats well good balanced meals no junk just a little a day here and there. Well at least I can say for my mother she never took any kind of medications from the Drs and does better without all the medication the Dr says she needs it. Ha Ha that's a laugh cause my mother almost died cause they said the Dr ordered it and she should take it. Well I know my mother better than any Dr If I think she needs it then I will. But i research everything on my own before I give my mother any medications from the Dr. Anyway my mother is doing fine and it was all the medications the Dr give my mom that almost killed her it killed my father last year because of ALL THE MEDS THE DRS prescribes! Good Luck!

Take Natural Herbs we take Sunshine Herbs and Vitamins it helped me I don't listen to Dr's they just take all your money. Herbs keep you well and good food! Drs just try and cure the cause.

Slurred speech is generally thought of in the context of stroke/mini-stroke symptoms, but if slurred speech and drooling is occurring only in the context of having taken medications, it could be caused by medications that can produce drowsiness, of which there are many. Slurred speech and drooling caused by medications could also occur in the context of medications causing dystonic reactions although there are usually other more visually obvious signs of dystonic reaction besides slurred speech (i.e. intermittent muscle spasms, oftentimes in the face).

You will want to talk to your mother's doctor to further evaluate her symptoms, and if they are indeed thought to be related to medication, deduce which medication(s) may be the culprit.

If you have further questions about this topic or others, feel free to contact me directly (click on my profile for details).

Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Vik Rajan, M.D.

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My mother is in a nursing facility located in the midwest, she is on thirteen medications, two for dementia, two sulfaureas for diabetes, two for bipolar, two for high cholesteral, one for hypertension, warfarin, furosemide, one for depression and one for anxiety. I have asked the headnurse to ask her doctor about the multiple medications. It has been over a week and I have gotten no response. Any suggestions

I agree with lightedpumken about it being better for elders to be on no meds, BUT - no one can abruptly stop any medications without an MD involved, for many of them cause withdrawal symptoms. Healthcare professionals often seek to prescribe meds for some people whose anxiety or depression seem to get out of hand, causing problems or risks. I happen to believe that closer attention and extra time with someone who is not a rotating-staff person - can often find sources of anxiety and help someone manage to solve the issues or find strategies - but that process is slow. The pts who are already not on meds are lucky as I see it, for meds may bring short term solutions, but stopping them is later a problem and few professionals even see that as desireable.

My Mom had an awful reaction to Aricept. He took her off immediately and the symptoms cleared up. She does not have Alzheimer's but the doc thought she might and prescribed Aricept. She couldn't even write her own name, she was weak, confused. It was terrible, so be careful. Take care

I would not wait any longer - I would get medical attention immediately. My mother had slurred speech after meds, and then suffered a stroke. Something is seriously wrong - so not to alarm you, but I would go to emergency room and let them check her out, esp right after taking the meds when the symptoms are there.

I thin the first thing is to mention in a post like this what medications she is taking. I agree with above...DO NOT STOP until professionally advised. I am physician with 30 years experience so this could be quite simple to fix with an MD......unfair to expect pharmacist to make those calls.

I'm with suky888, this should be tended to immediately.

YES! It definitely could be medications! It could be a stroke or something medical too, but if she has recently changed meds I would take it very seriously!! My mom's doctor put her on a med a while back that did JUST that!! It was HORRIBLE. It almost killed her! Don't ignore this. Check it out and find out what is the cause! Either way, it most likely needs to be adressed!!

Are all the meds coming from the same pharmacy?, Has one Dr. looked at all the Rx's, has one Pharmacist evaluated all the Rx's
Do a search for 'Polypharmacy', you will learn a lot, it is important for most people to understand how this reacts with people at differing age groups.
and also interaction with things like pepto bismo before or after taking.

It is very much worth looking into. Talk to your mother's pharmacist and doctor. Don't leave until you have answers and a real plan.

This is my mother's story.
My mother was on about 15 different medications. Doctors at Kaiser LOVE to prescribe, and my mother is a hypochondriac. For several years she was having constant falls, her speech was always slurred, she shook as if she had palsy, and she was NOT in her right mind, but it was not until after two falls within a month left her with a break in a right ankle and a break in her left tibia and the fact that they were not healing, that she finally allowed me to take some charge of her medical.

I used a Drug website that allowed me to type in all of her meds and then they were processed for all possible interactions. The biggest problem was that they had her on 4 central nervous system depressants, and 1 SSRI. 1 interaction was potentially fatal, and more than several interactions were highly cautioned. Some interactions caused the falling, dizziness, slurred speech, improper thinking, and the rest of the interactions seemed to cause the same symptoms my mother was trying to have treated! I printed up the 18 pages and brought them to my mother's next doctor's appointment. Based on that she was titrated down on one or two, and some others were eliminated. Within a couple months four were stopped and one was exchanged for something much less dangerous.

I added in some supplements with her doctors approval, ester C and zinc because she was in a board and care facility and exposed often to sick people. A supplement which contained Fish, Flax, and Borage Oils for ALL her Omegas for heart health. Calcium, magnesium, and D3 for her bones to knit faster and her mood to improve, (she had been casted for over three months and had shown no healing, casts did not come off until almost five months after the initial break).

Four months after my mother let me have a little control she was able to walk with a walker, her speech was no longer slurred and her shaking was completely gone! She used to shake so badly that she could not hold a drink and was barely able to feed herself. Within six months she could walk without a walker.

There is another situation that this might indicate,has she had a fall lately and bumped her head? My father has Normal pressure hydroceaphlus(water on the brain) Yhis caused him the same symptums you describe with also a walking problem, took him to a neurologist who figured this out.(he had a fall+ headaches so they did a CAT scan- no concussion so they sent him home ( a month later I insisited on the neurologist visit and using the SAME CAT film diagnosed Dad with NPH)

In our case, taking Mom off Neurontin stopped the slurred speech, however, she did NOT have a drooling issue.

yes, it can. contact doctor and drug store.

Thanks to everyone for your input. Mom is on the following drugs: Celebrex (2x day) Tramadol (as needed) Namenda twice a day (recommeded 4 x day) but it makes her loopey and out of it, so twice a day, xanax (1/2 tab ) at night only to help her get to sleep if needed, Lasix (alternating 80 mg MWF and 60 mg TTSS), Kdur 20meq (2 x day) Fenofibrate (1 x day) Omeprazole (1-2 x day) Docusate (2 x day) Warfarin (MWF 5 mg, TTSS 2.5 mg) Metropolol (2 x day) Levothyroxine (1 x day) Isosorbide (1 x day) Metoclorapamide (4 x day) Vit D (1 x week). Iron (2 x day for anemia) Her Medical is: Congestive Heart Failure, Angina, Diverticulitis/Diverticulosis, Macular Degenerative Disease, Diabetic (controlled) and of course Alzheimers. We started her back on the Ocuguard Plus Eye Capsules about a month ago which I thin could be the culprit with the benadryl. Cardiologist/Hematologist/GI and PCP will not sedate her at our request as her organs are only functioning at 1/4 capacity and have been for many years now.

The Omeprazole can increase the blood level of Xanax. This can increase the risk of side effects including excessive drowsiness and breathing difficulties. You may need a dose adjustment or more frequent monitoring by your doctor to safely use both medications. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using any medications without first talking to your doctor.

Talk to your doctor before using Tramadol together with metoclopramide.

Fenofibrate can increase the effects of warfarin and cause you to bleed more easily.

Using warfarin together with traMADol may cause you to bleed more easily.

Using warfarin together with celecoxib may cause you to bleed more easily. You may need a dose adjustment based on your prothrombin time or International Normalized Ratio (INR).

Using ALPRAZolam, (Xanax), together with Tramadol may increase side effects such as dizziness, drowsiness, and difficulty concentrating.

Using diphenhydramine-(Benedryl), together with traMADol may increase side effects such as dizziness, drowsiness, and difficulty concentrating.

Celecoxib may increase the blood levels and effects of Tramadol. If your doctor does prescribe these medications together, you may need a dose adjustment or more frequent monitoring by your doctor to safely use both medications.

Using metoprolol together with celecoxib can increase your blood levels of metoprolol. This can lower your blood pressure and slow your heart rate, causing side effects such as slow heartbeat, headaches, dizziness, or feeling like you might pass out. Talk with your doctor before using these medications together, and report any side effects promptly.

Using omeprazole together with furosemide may cause a condition called hypomagnesemia, or low blood magnesium. Drugs known as proton pump inhibitors including omeprazole can cause hypomagnesemia when used for a prolonged period, and the risk may be further increased when combined with other medications that also have this effect such as furosemide. In severe cases, hypomagnesemia can lead to irregular heart rhythm, palpitations, muscle spasm, tremor, or seizures.

Ask your doctor before using diphenhydramine-(Benedryl) and metoclopramide. Using these medications together may cause metoclopramide to be less effective. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using any medications without first talking to your doctor.

Furosemide and diphenhydramine-(Benedryl) may have additive effects in lowering your blood pressure. You may experience headache, dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting, and/or changes in pulse or heart rate.

I go to a great little dotcom called Drugs. I plug in every single medication and it gives me a list like the above I made for you. By the way, you really need to go to this website and do it for yourself. I abbreviated each result up there because the page of results from your drug list is very very long. I could not even show you all of the results. I suggest that you speak with your doctor and pharmacist with the results from that website all printed up. I understand that you would like your mother sedated, not sure why but. . . . anyways you probably should not do so, the diphenhydramine-(Benedryl), is just not a good idea. If your doctors will not sedate her, it's because her heart/lungs/kidneys/central nervous system cannot handle sedation. The drooling would be enough proof I would think.

PamelaSue has said it all. Hopefully Fraulien's dr is checking her mother's blood levels frequently to prevent such things as hypomagnesia. Clearly the patient is a very sick lady and has been for many years and sedation will only increase her imobility and risk pressure sores and pneumonia. Sedation is appropriate if the patient is very distressed or gets herself in dangerous situations.