Past Current Medication & Supplement Schedule

12/12/05: Change in Med Schedule: Amount of Benefiber at breakfast now 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon; change involves upping her dosage from 1 tablespoon.
ADDITIONAL NOTE: It seems at sometime after the original publication of this schedule I upped her Benefiber dosage from 2 tsp at breakfast to 1 tbl (an addition of 1 tsp) and didn't note it. I'm not sure when I did this but it was definitely within the last month.
BREAKFAST

Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
Niferex-150 [150 mg elemental iron]	1/2 to 1 hour before breakfast	to keep her iron deficiency anemia under control
vitamin C/500 mg	1/2 1000 mg tab with Niferex-150	helps the body metabolize iron
100% Aloe Vera gel/1 oz	just before meal	helps increase the cells' sensitivity to insulin when used with glipizide
Protonix/40 mg	1 pill at least 1/2 hour pre-meal	standard pre-breakfast med; helps protect her intestinal lining to prevent ulceration and bleeding
glipizide ER/10 mg	1 pill with meal	standard breakfast and dinner med to increase cells' sensitivity to insulin
coated aspirin/81 mg	1 tab with breakfast	standard breakfast med - given for anti-coagulant properties
lisinopril/5 mg	1/2 of 10 mg tab with meal	given to lower her blood pressure and protect her kidneys; works by relaxing the blood vessels
Daily Senior Multivitamin	with breakfast	standard breakfast supplement
folic acid/400 mcg	with breakfast	standard breakfast supplement
garlic/1250 mg	with meal	standard breakfast supplement; a natural antibiotic and anti-coagulant
1 1200 mg Omega-3 Fish Oil capsule	with meal	Although her PCP is not concerned about her cholesterol and triglycerides, I've added this to see if it helps keep these levels optimum. As well, it seems that there are other benefits ascribed to this supplement which may or may not apply to my mother, including sharper mental functioning and increased skin elasticity.
1 12 oz cup Yogi Tea Detox or Peach Detox tea	with meal	This tea is specifically designed to promote liver and kidney functions.
1 tbl + 1 tsp Benefiber	with meal, in orange juice	promotes timely, easy bowel evacuation; may occasionally be given in lower or higher doses
1/2 tsp cinnamon	with meal, sprinkled on toast	said to increase cell sensitivity to insulin

No regular LUNCH medications or supplements.

DINNER:

Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
100% Aloe Vera gel/1 oz	just before meal	helps increase the cells' sensitivity to insulin when used with glipizide
Niferex-150 [150 mg elemental iron]	just before meal	to keep her iron deficiency anemia under control
vitamin C/500 mg	1/2 1000 mg tab with iron supplement	helps the body metabolize iron
glipizide ER/10 mg	1 pill with meal	standard dinner med to increase cells' sensitivity to insulin
lisinopril/5 mg	1/2 of 10 mg tab with meal	given to lower her blood pressure and protect her kidneys; works by relaxing the blood vessels
vitamin E/400 IU	with meal	given for anti-coagulant properties
garlic/1250 mg	with meal	given for anti-coagulant and antibiotic properties
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
100 mg Macrodantin	with meal	to prevent UTIs

OTHER THAN MEALTIMES:

Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
Concentrated oxygen, 2-3/lpm continuous	when she's sleeping	to make sure she doesn't become breathless
Tanked pulse oxygen, 2-3/lpm	when she's sitting around or indulging in light moving	if she becomes breathless; she does not always use this when she's up
Tanked oxygen, 2/lpm continuous	when she's moving or exercising	almost always uses this

    You'll notice cranberry juice is no longer on the supplement menu. With all the other anti-oxidants she gets and considering that she now receives a daily dose of antibiotics to prevent UTIs, cranberry juice is no longer a medical supplement for her, it's something she may or may not drink during the day. She gets plenty of anti-oxidants as it is, so I'm not worried about making sure she gets cranberry juice every day, anymore.

    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):

• Protonix (Rx)
• Glipizide (Rx)
• Lisinopril (Rx)
• Macrodantin (Rx)
• Oxygen, 2-3/lpm pulse and continuous
• 81 mg Aspirin
• Oscal: Calcium/Vitamin D combo

    The following are administered occasionally, as needed:

• Opcon-A for itchy, weepy eyes
• Phillip's Milk of Magnesia to break through constipation
• Ducosate Sodium if a little more help is needed to break through constipation
• Extra Strength Tums for very occasional upset stomach
• {Rx} Furosemide 10-20 mg once to twice a day for very occasional abdominal water retention
• {Rx} Metoclopramide 5 mg administered 1/2 hour before meal in the case of very occasional nausea