Current Medication & Supplement Schedule

2/9/06: Change in Med Schedule: Amount of Benefiber at breakfast now is 2 Tbl, measured as 6 tsp; although I haven't been changing this schedule as the upping has taken place, it has occurred in two increments of 1 tsp upping apiece.

ADDITIONAL NOTE: The major change here is that her second dose of glipizide at her last meal of the day has been dropped, due to her unusually low HA1c results from her blood draw of 2/03/06.     As well, her extra folic acid (the 400 mg pill), has been transferred to her evening meal, since she receives 400 mg folic acid in her Daily Senior Multivitamin in the evening.
    A few other schedule changes have taken place: I now administer her evening lisinopril, iron and Vitamin-C at bedtime in order to separate these dosages, as much as possible, by 12 hours, so the levels in her body remain fairly constant.
    I have also cosmetically changed the schedule to better represent the timing of her medications: There is now an UPON AWAKENING BEFORE BREAKFAST schedule and a BEFORE BED schedule.

UPON AWAKENING BEFORE BREAKFAST:

Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
lisinopril/10 mg	1 10 mg tab upon awakening before breakfast	given to lower her blood pressure and protect her kidneys; works by relaxing the blood vessels
Niferex-150 [150 mg elemental iron]	1 tab upon awakening before breakfast	to keep her iron deficiency anemia under control; switched from breakfast to immediately upon awakening in order to separate doses by about 12 hours.
vitamin C/500 mg	1/2 1000 mg tab with iron supplement	helps the body metabolize iron
Protonix/40 mg	upon awakening before breakfast	standard pre-breakfast med; protects her intestinal lining to prevent ulceration and bleeding

BREAKFAST

Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
100% Aloe Vera gel/1 oz	just before meal	helps increase the cells' sensitivity to insulin when used with glipizide
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
Daily Senior Multivitamin	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.
2 tbl 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
folic acid/400 mcg	with breakfast	standard breakfast supplement
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

ADDITIONAL NOTE: If Mom decides to have dessert, which is very occasionally, I have lately decided to supplement her dessert with a second 10 mg of glipizide, just to make sure she her blood sugar doesn't soar at night while she's sleeping. When this happens, I note it in the daily reports.

JUST BEFORE BED:

Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
Niferex-150 [150 mg elemental iron]	just before sx	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
lisinopril/10 mg	1 of 10 mg tab	given to lower her blood pressure and protect her kidneys; works by relaxing the blood vessels
100 mg Macrodantin	with meal	to prevent UTIs

OTHER TIMES:

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

    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 (Rx)
• 81 mg Aspirin
• Oscal: Calcium/Vitamin D combo (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
• Iron Supplementation; the specific supplement I use was not suggested by her doctors; in fact, their suggestions were, through our experience, shown to be far less effective than this one and prone to increase the possibility of needed transfusions; I found this supplement through research

    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
• Extra Strength Acetaminophen for occasionally unusual aches and stiffness
• Adult Buffered Aspirin for occasionally unusual aches and stiffness
• 200 mg Ibuprofen for occasionally unusual aches and stiffness
• {Rx} Furosemide 10-20 mg once to twice a day for very occasional abdominal 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.

ADDITIONAL NOTE: You'll notice that I have on hand three different types of OTC analgesic. Although she rarely asks for or needs an analgesic and will sometimes refuse one when I suggest it, I make a judgment call regarding which to use: Ibuprofen if the pain is sharp and appears to have been provoked by some kind of movement "mistake"; Adult Buffered Aspirin if the stiffness and/or aches occur in the morning before breakfast, in which case I switch out her normal 81 mg aspirin with the Adult dose, also at other times during the day if she appears to be especially ruddy and can handle aspirin; Extra Strength Tylenol (sometimes halved) if she seems pale and/or more frail than usual and she's had either an Adult Buffered Aspirin or an Ibuprofen much earlier in the day. I automatically see to it that I do not "mix" analgesics within an 8 hour period.