O.D.ing on medication (unintentionally)

[Guest guest]

Hello again!

I have a question. My mother has just recently been released

from the hospital with a new type of pain medication: Contin. She is

supposed to take 60 mg a day however, in the first day she was out of

the hospital she took 150 mg. I think she is okay. I am just going

to keep an eye on her for a while. Of course she didn't tell me

this. I had to sneak around her back and count the pills when I

noticed she was acting " wonky. " So, here is my question: what can I

do to help her take her medications correctly? She was not

intentionally trying to OD, she just wakes up sleeping and groggy,

can't remember if she had taken the pill (and so afraid of hurting),

so she takes another one. Of course, this is not the only medication

she takes (12 enzymes a day, 1 nexium a day, and 1 Zolft a day which

she will often will " forget " because she doesn't like to take it. I

know it is not good to go on and off antidepresent suddently). In

addiction, I have to go back to college in a month and can't stay

home and help her. She needs to become self-sufficient.

I never suspected that I would have to take care of my mother at

twenty-one. I wish she could still take care of me.

~Chris

[Guest guest]

I am not aware of any drug called contin there are two different

drugs with contin on them one is Oxycontin and the other is MS

contin. Oxycontin is the same medication in the drug Percocet only

with a sustained release substance added to it so the medication can

slowly be released into the system. The other drug is morphine

sulfate with the same substance added to it to make it sustained

release. One thing you might try for pill organization is a

container that you buy with the days on it and some even have days

and times on them to make sure people are taking their meds, they

have to filled usually once a week by someone familar with the

persons medication regimen ( these container are availabe at any

drug store or w al-mart k-mart that type of place and usually cost

max $8.00) Alot of home care agencies use these to help organize

their meds and help them take them at the right time. Is it possible

to speak with your mothers physician and see if she could have home

care come and check on her and help her when you are not avaiable

it,might be time to check this out before closer to time for you to

leave for college. Illness knows no age boundry I got sick when I

was 30 and sure never thought I would be in shape I am in when I was

29 and I am now soon to be 37. Let me know if any of my suggestions

helped or any other concerns I would be glad to pick my brain to

help you slady@...

[Guest guest]

Hi

I just wanted to let you know that I take MS Contin, 60mg twice a

day, and I've never had any kind of OD effects with this med. If

that is what your mom is on, if she did take it twice a day, I think

she would be ok. BUT everyone is different. It just broke my heart

when I read the very last sentence in your post. " I never suspected

that I would have to take care of my mother at twenty-one. I wish

she could still take care of me. " This is one of my biggest fears,

that this burden will soon fall upon my own children. I keep my

illnss from them so much, they are getting older now, and they can

certainly tell when I'm feeling my worse, but still I try to keep it

from them as much as possible. I hate what this illness does to us &

the burdens it puts upon our families! I hate it!!! I hate it!!! I

hate it!!! Good luck, my friend. And please, keep your head up!

You are a good kid! Oh yeah, and an idea how your mom may be able to

keep track of her meds. There are all kinds of medicine boxes these

days that you put the pills in certain slots to take certain pills at

the right times. I've seen big ones & little ones. Ones that have

it marked down to the exact time to take it. Even seen them with

timers on them that goes off when its time for the pills. Maybe you

should look into that. Or even make a chart on the computer or

something that tells the exact times to take the meds. I don't know,

I'm just trying to think of anything that might help take some of the

burden off of you so you can get back to school & get a great

education like your mom wants & will be so proud of you when you

finish! Good Luck! I'll keep you & your family in my thoughts &

prayers.

Lots of Hugs,

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In pancreatitis , " cynicalsoul000 "

<cynicalsoul000@y...> wrote:

Hello again!

I have a question. My mother has just recently been released

from the hospital with a new type of pain medication: Contin. She is

supposed to take 60 mg a day however, in the first day she was out of

the hospital she took 150 mg. I think she is okay.

I never suspected that I would have to take care of my mother at

twenty-one. I wish she could still take care of me.

~Chris