Potassium

On Friday, we visited my aunt's primary doctor -- and had medication review to review the various med changes made since her leaving the rehab center. My aunt has had a potassium problem in the past, but she was given 20 mg a day at rehab and the doctor reaffirmed and renewed prescription. The next day, I read on article on gilbert GUIDE -- see below -- that cautioned that certain diuretics called ACE inhibitors can cause high levels of potassium in the blood (hyperkalemia). My aunt is also taking one of those, Lisinopril. Just leave as is, or question?

(NOTE: My aunt left rehab with a prescription for a Beta blocker, which she refused to take since it made her dizzy. The home health nurse said that the Ace inhibitor was then not needed as they went together. Both the primary care physician and her cardiologist said OK no Beta blocker, keep the Ace inhibitor. Who's on first?)

gilbert GUIDE: "How Aging and Medication Affects Our Bodies"

Progress?

My Aunt visited her neurologist today. He doubled her daily dose of Mirapex (Pramipexole) -- from .125 mg to .250 mg 3 X daily -- after examining her and stating that her Parkinson's Disease was undertreated. She seemed to pass all the other little physical tests like walking, squeezing his hand, touching her nose.

What if we had not made that appointment? She missed one of her quarterly appointments while in the rehab center, but no effort was made to follow-up far as I know. We were given the option of boosting the dosage further in week if need be -- up to 4.50 mg daily, can you imagine! The increase is supposed to improve balance and reduce tremors, with one potential side effect hallucinations. But no worry, not dangerous. Just cut the dosage back and it will be fine...Oy!

The doctor said it was definitely a Parkinson's tremor (3-4 shakes a second), and not an "essential tremor." He also was very pleased to be shown a list of all my Aunt's medications and kept a photocopy, but he did not ask for that info...One doctor down, two to go.