Current Medication & Supplement Schedule

UPON AWAKENING BEFORE BREAKFAST:

Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
Albuterol/Ipratropium	inhaled upon awakening before breakfast	to address lung congestion
Niferex-150 Forte [150 mg elemental iron] Rx with extra B12 and folic acid	1 tab upon awakening before breakfast	to keep her iron deficiency anemia under control
Protonix/40 mg	upon awakening before breakfast	standard pre-breakfast med; protects her intestinal lining to prevent ulceration and bleeding
glipizide ER/10 mg	1 pill before breakfast	if her blood sugar is high enough so that it doesn't drop too low in the 45 minutes or so before she actually eats breakfast; OTHERWISE, given at meal

BREAKFAST

Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
Niferex-150 Forte [150 mg elemental iron] Rx with extra B12 and folic acid	1 tab with breakfast	to keep her iron deficiency anemia under control
100 mg Macrodantin	with meal	to prevent UTIs
Daily Senior Multivitamin	with breakfast	standard breakfast supplement
6 tsp Benefiber	with meal, in orange juice	promotes timely, easy bowel evacuation; may occasionally be given in lower or higher doses
1/4 tsp cinnamon	with meal, sprinkled on toast	said to increase cell sensitivity to insulin
1,250 mg garlic tablet	with meal	added as a natural antibiotic to try to head off lung infections
200 mg ibuprofen	with meal	as general purpose non-inflammatory agent and to allay niggling little aches and pains throughout the day As of 12/2/08:  I now alternate this with 325 mg acetaminophen, depending on whether we are addressing general discomfort (acetaminophen) or possible inflammation (ibuprofen). As well, it is not necessarily an every day med as of 12/3/08.

BEFORE NAP:

Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
2 Niferex-150 Forte tablets [150 mg elemental iron] Rx with extra B12 and folic acid	before nap	to keep her iron deficiency anemia under control

FOUR HOURS AFTER FIRST BREATHING TREATMENT:

Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
Albuterol/Ipratropium	inhaled upon awakening from nap	to address lung congestion

DINNER:

Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
1 tab glipizide ER/10 mg	since she usually eats soon after arising from nap, if her BG is normal or only slightly above, she gets this just before dinner; if her BG is high (130 or above) she gets this after she awakens from her nap	to control Type 2 diabetes
1 tab calcium-vitamin D/500-200 mg	with meal	believed to be an osteoporosis preventative; although current research suggests that it does not perform well in women; I give it to her anyway because I doubt that it will hurt her and the extra Vitamin C is probably good for her
1,250 mg garlic tablet	with meal	added as a natural antibiotic to try to head off lung infections

BEFORE BED AT NIGHT:

Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
glipizide ER/10 mg	1 pill with dessert or after a high refined carb meal	Rarely given; only in cases of lots of carbohydrates throughout the day; otherwise, see DINNER MEDS
Ipratroprium/Albuterol	inhaled four hours after last breathing treatment	to address lung congestion
2 Niferex-150 [150 mg elemental iron]	an hour or so before bed	to keep her iron deficiency anemia under control
4 oz prune juice	nuked to room temperature	to ease evacuation problems
1 12 oz cup Yogi Detox Tea [Regular or Peach]	every other night, this is her last major cup of liquid for the day	general purpose health measure
lisinopril/15 mg	1 10mg tab + 1/2 tab more after she is sitting on her bed, before she lays down	Given to lower her blood pressure and protect her kidneys; works by relaxing the blood vessels.

OTHER TIMES:

Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
Tanked continuous oxygen, 4/lpm continuous	when awake and sitting	to make sure she doesn't become breathless
Tanked continuous oxygen, 5/lpm	24/7 when she's sitting if her breathing is labored on 4/lpm; always when she is moving or exercising	to make sure she doesn't become breathless
Concetrated oxygen, 5/lpm continuous	24/7 when she's sleeping	to make sure she doesn't become breathless

    The following are prescribed meds, treatments or supplements (all the rest are OTC supplementals which, although approved by her PCP, were not suggested by him):

• Albuterol Sulfate: 0.083% solution/3 mL; every three to four hours, mostly combined with Ipratropruim
• Ipratroprium Bromide: 0.02% solution/2.5 mL; every four hours with Albuterol (can fudge time by 1/2 hour to 3.5 hours, depending on need)
• Niferex-150 Forte: 900 mg; 300 mg 3x/day (Rx)
• Protonix: 40mg 1x/day (Rx)
• Glipizide: 10 mg; 2-3x/day (Rx)
• Lisinopril: 15 mg 1x/day; if necessary, I can increase this dose by scattering other low mg doses throughout the day (Rx)
• Macrodantin: 100 mg 1x/day (Rx)
• Oxygen, 4-5/lpm pulse and continuous/concentrated and tanked-may titrate (Rx)
• Oscal: Calcium/Vitamin D combo 1x/day (recommended by the nursing home; although research has since shown that this supplement does not alleviate the possibility of breakage or weakening bone structure, I continue it anyway, since it seems likely that it couldn't hurt
• Ibuprofen: once 200 mg tablet once per day at breakfast; can add 1-2 tablets every 6 hous as needed up to 2400 mg
• Garlic: two 1,250 mg tablet per day (supplement)
• Yogi Detox or Peach Detox Tea: One 12 oz freshly brewed cup every other day
• Senior mult-vitamin
• Prune Juice: 6 oz in evening to stimulate easy, regular evacuation

    The following are administered occasionally and/or daily, as needed:

• Opcon-A for itchy, weepy eyes
• Phillip's Milk of Magnesia to break through constipation; Tbl dose at a time
• Ducosate Sodium if a little more help is needed to break through constipation
• Extra Strength Tums for very occasional upset stomach
• Desitin and/or Level 3 Barrier Cream (used every day on thigh creases) for urine skin irritations and rashes.
• 2% diphenhydramine cream used for skin rashes due to urine irritation and/or sweat-heat rashes. I use this when the oil based zinc creams don't do the trick (which is fairly often). This cream isn't oil based and allows the skin to breathe better; it also stops itching and heals more quickly.
• Extra Strength Acetaminophen or Regular Acetaminophen for occasionally unusual aches and stiffness
• {Rx} Furosemide 10 mg once to twice a day for very occasional water retention; when I give this to her I note it in these daily reports.
• {Rx} Metoclopramide 5 mg administered 1/2 hour before meal in the case of very occasional nausea. When I give this to her I note it in these daily reports.
• Morphine Sulfate: for instructions on use see Morphine Manual