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About Margot RN BScN GNC
Expertise
GERONTOLOGY (NURSING ISSUES RELATED TO THE ELDERY) I have 15+ years experience working with the elderly. I would be pleased to offer any assistance I can. My areas of expertise include: Gerontology / Geriatrics, Long Term Care, Community Nursing, Palliative Care, Private Nursing Services, Intermediate / Extended Care. I also have a personal interest in Homeopathic and Eastern Medicine. If I can not answer your question I`ll do my best to direct you to an appropriate resource. Thank you.
Experience
I have fifteen years experience in Gerontological Nursing both in the community, and in Long Term Care. I have worked as a General Duty Nurse, a Nurse Manager, and a Nursing Consultant in Long Term Care and Community Nursing.I have a great deal of experience working with, assessing, and educating in the field of Gerontology (Nursing the Elderly). I am familiar with the challenges associated with Dementia (Alzheimer's), Chronic and Terminal illnesses, and the stresses of residential homes
Experience in the area
20 years of Long Term Care and Community Nursing, specialising in Geriatrics, Gerontology and PalliativeCare.
Education/Credentials
Registered Nurse , Certified Gerontological Nurse, Bachelor of Science in Nursing
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You are here: Experts > Health/Fitness > Women's Health > Family, Internal Medicine, General Medical Questions > Elder Dad -- Chronic Vicodin Use
Expert: Margot RN BScN GNC
Date: 7/19/2006
Subject: Elder Dad -- Chronic Vicodin Use
Question
I'm a nurse (gerontology/pain mgmt isn't my area) but I was trying to explain to my dad why it's so bad for him to take vicodin (10MG P.O. QD) chronically for poorly managed leg pain. He's been checked out--several procedures and specialists later, they can't tell him why his leg hurts. It sounded like intermittent claudication, but they've determined that circulation to that leg is great. Radiologist said there was no pressure on the sciatic nerve. Anyhoo, he's given up on trying to find the root of this leg pain, but that's all to say--what's the scariest, most memorable way to tell my dad why it's so bad for a 65 year old to drink (abusing ETOH) and take vicodin every day? I wish he'd get with a pain mgmt doc who would make him sign a drug abuse contract to monitor his pain meds closer. But that's besides the point--I'm just trying to let him know all his risks with this behavior.
Thanks,
Amy, another kind of nurse (peds)
Answer
Hi Amy and thanks for writing,
You could try pointing out:
-Avoid alcohol while taking acetaminophen and hydrocodone. Alcohol can increase drowsiness and dizziness caused by the medication, possibly resulting in unconsciousness and death. Also, acetaminophen can be damaging to the liver when taken with alcohol
-Vicodin is not recommended for people over 60
-point out that Vicodin is a CNS Narcotic which simply fools the brain that we're not experiencing pain but does nothing to treat the symptoms - he would be much wiser to continue investigating the cause of the pain, and try seeing a Homeopath who can help treat symptoms and not jut Rx drugs to mask the pain.
I hope this helps, if your Dad has abused ETOH for a log time he may not care if he abuses a Narcotic too, but all we can is try right?
All my best,
Margot
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