In Focus

Having a sick parent is challenging for anyone, but dealing with a parent who experiences hallucinations and incoherent mumbling takes it to another level.

My mom is currently battling her second bout of lung cancer, which has spread to her neck and brain. She has undergone radiation treatment for her brain and is currently going through chemotherapy. Things are about as good as they can be expected, but she hasn’t gone a week without a trip to the hospital or emergency room for one issue or another.

Recently, she was admitted to the hospital due to hallucinations and vivid storytelling, which the doctors attributed to dehydration. She spent two days there. Shortly after, we were back in the ER because she was experiencing chest pains and had difficulty taking a deep breath. She had pneumonia again, and they admitted her overnight to get some IV antibiotics.

The next day, after she insisted on being released, one of my wonderful neighbors picked her up and stopped by the pharmacy to get her antibiotics. I met them at home, and my neighbor mentioned that Mom had taken an Ambien and was already falling asleep.

Not long after that, I noticed Mom acting strangely again. She took one of her frozen meals and walked back to her bedroom with it. I warmed it up and made her eat at the table. Concerned about her behavior, I called the hospital, knowing she wasn’t dehydrated but was acting the same way as before. I explained everything that had happened and mentioned the Ambien. The nurse suggested that the sleeping aid was likely the cause of her symptoms, possibly even contributing to her previous episodes.

While this was happening, Cya, the dog, decided it was prime time to start digging in the kennel, getting mud absolutely everywhere as she trotted back into the house. She was not a fan of getting hosed off but it was necessary. She kept jumping on mom while mom looked puzzled as I was cleaning up the copious amounts of mud and I had to put pavers on the holes to cover up the mud. It was not a pleasant night.

I did some research online and found that Ambien poses significant risks for older adults due to their slower drug metabolism. It frequently causes daytime drowsiness, dizziness, and impaired coordination, which can significantly increase the risk of falls and fractures. It can also trigger severe cognitive side effects, such as confusion, memory loss, and complex sleep behaviors like sleepwalking or even sleep-driving. Furthermore, long-term use in seniors is linked to potential dependency and an increased risk of cognitive decline.

I was not going to let that happen. With my neighbor’s help, we located the problematic medication and got rid of it. I would rather Mom be an insomniac than risk locking up the house, hiding keys, and watching her stumble around, talking nonsense, and falling asleep while standing. No more of that.

If you or a loved one take this medication, I hope you are being extremely careful! I believe the side effects outweigh any potential benefits. And mom remembers nothing of that night.

I also want to extend a big thank you to my neighbors who have supported me during this difficult time: Amy, Paul, Al, Holly, John, and Linda. I am forever grateful for their help, whether it’s taking Mom to appointments or simply mowing the lawn. Thank you so much for all the help and keeping me sane!