AboutMary E Scott, RPh, CGP Expertise I am a certified geriatric pharmacist with over 23 years experience as a long-term care consultant to nursing homes. I also do community-based consulting on an individual basis. My facility-based monthly newsletter on pharmacy topics is read by nurses in over 200 long-term care facilities in 5 states.
Experience I received a BS in Pharmacy in 1980 with post-graduate work in public health. I have had a Consultant Pharmacist license since 1984.
Organizations American Society of Consultant Pharmacists .I received certification in geriatric pharmacy in 1998.
My mom takes many different medications, and each doctor tells her different times to take the drugs. When she was in the hospital they gave her many at one time. Im trying to reduce how often she takes them, can you please help me
please see below - thanks Ken
NEXIUM 5 AM
SUCRALFATE 6 AM
DIGITEK 6AM
TOPROL 6AM
CALTRATE 7 AM
SUCRALFATE 9 AM
NEXIUM 4 PM
COUMADIN 6 PM
SUCRALFATE 6 PM
CRESTOR 8 PM
RANITINE 9 PM
Answer Hi,Ken!
I have changed the times to make it a little easier AND to make sure optimal absorption of the meds occurs. The main problems I saw with the times she's taking her meds are:
1)It's seems like she's ALWAYS taking meds-am I right?
2)Sucralfate should be taken 1 hr before or 2 hours after other meds because it alters the absorption of other meds,such as digoxin and coumadin.It's very worrying to me that she has been taking the digoxin at the same time.If it is not being absorbed, it is affecting her heart and she is not getting the benefit out of it.
So, what I have come up with is for her to take--
Nexium at 6A and 6P- this should be taken on an empty stomach at least 1/2 hr before meals
Sucralfate at 8A,12N, and 8P
Ranitidine at 9pm-I would question if this is needed since she is already taking Nexium and Sucralfate
Digoxin at 6A
Toprol at 6A
Caltrate at 6P (although if total dose is >600mg,it should be taken in divided doses)
Coumadin at 6P
and Crestor at 6P
She could then eat her evening meal at 6:30 or later
Hope this helps, Mary
