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.
Question My mother recently had a vascular surgery. a full 4 days before the surgery she was receiving morphine through IV. Over the 4 days, she started getting 2mg per hr and gradually went up to 2mg EVERY 15 MINS! and then they stopped giving that her her after the surgery and started her on 5mg of oxycodone when they sent her home. 2 days after she was home after the surgery, she was having (of what she thought was) belly pains. took her to the ER, they gave her 6mg of morphine within 2 hrs, 2 benadryl, and prednison(allergic to IVP dye for CT scans).and admitted her to the hospital and did not continue with any meds at all. The following day, she started with anxiety really bad which turned into her being very confused, very violent, suicidal, hot/cold flashes. My question is, do you think it is possible she could have been given to many medications and that she could have overdosed in which made her slightly crazy?
Thanks you for all your help
Answer Hi,Priscilla,
Without knowing what her medical history is, I wouldn't hazard a guess as to the cause of her behavior. The amount of morphine and/or oxycodone given is really not an overdose. Was she taking any other medications with those? Sometimes the anesthesia they use in surgery can cause bizarre behaviors the following days,also. Did you contact the nursing staff? Maybe they can explain why this happened. Hope this helps, Mary
