Was this prescription justifiable or criminal?!
Question:
Was this prescription justifiable or criminal?
I am asking this for my neighbour, an elderly woman, who was taking sodium amytal for over 30 years. She was first prescribed this drug when she was working shifts as a nurse, but is now in her late 80s. I read up on this drug and am shocked about the fact that it was given to her for so long and the fact that she was a nurse and still kept taking them, makes me quite concerned. I am caring for her, so need to talk to her GP in a few hours and would like to have some advice on what to say as her carer.
She is suffering obvious withdrawal symptoms and keeps asking for sleeping pills non-stop.
4 weeks ago
Is there anything I can do to stop her addiction? What shall I tell her GP?
4 weeks ago
She was taking 200mg of Sodium Amytal every night.
4 weeks ago
She is not m,y patient, I just care for her, take he shopping, to the GP, etc.
4 weeks ago
The doctors stopped the medication without weaning her off it. She then went to the chemist, who gave it to her apparently over the counter, but now says that the drug is not produced anymore (which is not true).
All this seems a bit fishy to me.
Answers:
A lot of older people in the UK are addicted to barbiturates and benzodiazepines due to insanely irresponsible prescribing in the 60's and 70's. Doctors don't like to talk about it.
Here's a forum where you might find some help. I don't know if it's any good, I've just Googled It! I hope so.
http://www.medhelp.org/forums/addiction/...