Category Archives: Caregiver Corner

Different Types of Caregivers

Posted by on August 11, 2014 under Caregiver Corner | Read the First Comment

Three kinds of caregivers

There are as many types of caregivers as there are types of charges. Are you a caregiver? What type are you? We’d love to hear from you – let us know in the comments! Here are three main categories:

Family:
Family caregiving brings with it numerous rewards and stresses. The satisfaction that you are “taking care of your own” is very unique. But family also knows you well. They know that the facial expression you’re making now might mean you’re mad, but trying to cover it up. With someone outside your family, they may not notice it or know what it means.

According to the CDC, the typical caregiver is a woman in her 40s, providing care for her mother. This is an incredible act of love, and reciprocation to the woman who brought you into this world. But she may also be the person who’s able to say just a little remark that can bring up decades of past issues. These are stresses many caregivers of their own parents’ experience, and knowing you’re not alone can help (and you’re not, with 34 million unpaid caregivers out there!).

Friends:
The Internet abounds with stories of people who accidentally become part-time caregivers to their friends and neighbors. Often times, the caregiving begins incrementally: picking up some groceries here, dropping off the mail there. It may stop there, or continue on. These people know that they get along with their charge, which can be a help (who doesn’t love visiting a friend?) and a hindrance (when one person is unhappy, it can be awkward to let their friend know).

Hired:
Caregiving professionals are part of an industry that is growing and will continue to grow as the baby-boomers age. These individuals have devoted their careers to helping others. The satisfaction of that does not lower the stress that can come with the job, but it may provide comfort at the end of a long day. They may be temporary or long-term. Either way they are bringing both help and joy to their charge.

TotalHomeCareSupplies.com honors all the caregivers out there, and hope that they know we’re thinking of them. We’d love to hear about your caregiver experiences, past or present! See you in the comments!

Unusual Ways to Relieve Stress

Posted by on August 7, 2014 under Caregiver Corner | Be the First to Comment

Breathe deep for stress relief!

Sure, everyone would love to be less stressed. But we’ve all read the lists of ways to reduce those stresses and either taken them to heart or thought “I don’t have time for that!” So here are some quick, easy and unusual ways to try and keep all that stress at bay. Comment with any uncommon ways of your own!

  1. Paint the house blue
    Blue has been shown to have relaxing effects on the mind and helps with focus. Now, you might say, “I have enough on my hands, I’m not going to repaint all the rooms in my house.” Of course. But even purchasing a light blue poster board and hanging it up behind the computer or above a TV can be helpful.
  1. Bake something
    A lot of sites recommend blowing up a balloon to make you breathe deeply, and breathing deeply is supposed to be relaxing. But blowing up a balloon can make you lightheaded. What else could I do that would make me breathe deeply? Good aromas! So really, you don’t even need to bake something, you could just grab a scented candle and give it a few good sniffs. Then light it: even more relaxing!
  1. Get a mouth guard
    Stress causes us to not only clench our jaw, it can make us grind our teeth at night. Dentist prescribed night guards are ideal, but can be quite expensive without dental insurance. If you’re experiencing tooth or jaw pain, see your dentist. But in the meantime, a store-bought one might help, and be a solution to some headaches as well.
  1. Light a match
    Write down five things that really stress you out or annoy you. Fold up the paper and burn it in a safe place, as a symbol of letting things go that you can’t control 100%. Or better yet, tuck it in to some charcoal in your BBQ, fire it up and have a tasty end to a long day!
  1. Set up recurring shipments
    This one is less unusual, and more just super helpful! At TotalHomeCareSupplies.com, you can set up recurring shipments of all the incontinence, ostomy or other supplies you need. Check out these three easy steps to setting up our EZ ship program.

Caregiving Blogs – August Highlight

Posted by on August 6, 2014 under Caregiver Corner | Be the First to Comment

Blogs written by caregivers

At the start of the new month, we’d like to take some time to highlight some caregiver bloggers. These bloggers are raising awareness of the difficulties their loved ones live with and helping others to know they’re not alone.

http://www.robertssister.com/

Trish Hughes Kreis is the primary caregiver to her brother, who lives with intractable epilepsy. He was also recently diagnosed with Cumulative Traumatic Encephameylopathy. Trish kept her readers aware and informed throughout the process of getting the diagnosis. Trish also participates in a live chat once a month with Denise Brown of caregiving.com to discuss all things related to caregiving.

http://www.lovethatmax.com/

Ellen Seidman’s son, Max, had a stroke shortly after he was born and developed cerebral palsy. (It’s true, babies can have strokes.) Now Max is doing all sorts of things that the doctors told Ellen weren’t going to happen for her son. Reading about Max’s improvements is a joyful thing, and his younger sister is a ton of fun as well.

http://www.insidedementia.com/blog/

Martha Stettinius was a caregiver to her mother with Alzheimer’s for eight years, before her mom passed away. Now she continues to advocate and write for caregivers, sharing her experiences and what she wished she knew then. She also wrote a book, titled Inside the Dementia  Epidemic: A Daughter’s Memoir, which we have pinned to our Pinterest board of Caregiver Books.

Do you write a blog or know of one that you’d like TotalHomeCareSupplies.com to highlight? Please provide us with a link in the comments. And if you’re a regular reader of any of these blogs, let us know and give them a shout out!

My Own Experiences as a Temporary Caregiver

Posted by on July 28, 2014 under Caregiver Corner | Be the First to Comment

Taking care of my grandfather

Hello there! My name’s Jeanne and I recently started at TotalHomeCareSupplies. I thought a good way to introduce myself would be to tell about when I was a temporary caregiver.

A few years ago, my mom and I visited my grandfather, who lived on his own in a two bedroom apartment in a different state than us. On this particular visit, upon arrival, we found him on the floor, alert and unhurt, but confused. He’d fallen, and a visit to the doctor told us he had pneumonia. He had to be checked into the hospital for a few days, and during this ordeal, decided a move to a nursing home might be prudent (he had tried living with my parents before, but found the altitude did not suit him).

After my grandfather checked out of the hospital, my mom needed to head back to work. My job at the time was more flexible, so I stayed to help him finish getting over the pneumonia, find him an acceptable nursing home and move him in.

We looked at three homes, and the last one had space for my grandfather and was acceptable to him. He would be able to move in after a week. In the meantime, I had to pack his apartment, get him to all his doctor appointments, work as much as possible at his friend’s houses or McDonald’s (since I needed the Internet, and he didn’t have a connection) and keep us both fed and relatively happy. And I had to do all this without a car, since the rental car was due back at the airport.

Somehow I pulled it off. I didn’t do it alone. His church friends helped him move, the town shuttle took us to appointments and the pharmacy, and his friends would stay with my grandfather when I needed to work. Still, it was exhausting. And there were upsetting things every day: new doctor appointments that meant I couldn’t spend those two hours working instead, my grandfather’s refusal to take recommended vitamins or just not getting as much done in one day as I would have liked. But in the end, his pneumonia cleared up and we moved him in. He was fairly happy there and we visited often.

My grandfather died, likely of pneumonia, about a year and a half later. It was sad, but I feel confident he was ready to go. Although those two weeks caring for him were stressful, I’m glad I was able to spend that time with him. I learned a lot, not only about him, but about myself.

Working at TotalHomeCareSupplies.com has reminded me of these experiences, and they give me a healthy respect for those caregivers that are not at all temporary. I’m looking forward to helping those that help others!

6 Tips for Changing an Adult Diaper

Posted by on April 17, 2014 under Caregiver Corner | Be the First to Comment

Changing Adult Diapers

We here at TotalHomeCareSupplies.com realize that changing an adult diaper, regardless of if you are wearing the diaper or you are the caregiver of someone with incontinence, is not always an easy task.

Adult Diaper Changing in 6 Steps

Here is a link to 6 simple steps for changing an adult disposable diaper.

  1. Determine how far away from your nearest flat surface you are to changing that diaper.
  2. Select the type of change you’ll feel confident with completing the change in.
  3. Try to contemplate the privacy issues that may result in the diaper-change.
  4. Decide which one best fits your style of diaper, and whichever one makes you feel the least embarrassed to have completed.
  5. Complete that style of diaper-change that had been chosen for you or your loved one, dependent on the type of diaper and amount of comfort you’ve chosen.
  6. Clean up.

Looking for Free Adult Diaper Samples

Looking for the right size, purchase a Prevail Adult Diaper Sample.  2 Pack samples are available for a $3.00 purchase.  However they include a $9.00 coupon off your next order.  That sounds like free adult diapers to me.

Click here to view all samples available from Prevail by First Quality.

For the complete article, follow the link below.

http://www.wikihow.com/Change-a-Disposable-Adult-Diaper

Adult Diaper Absorbency: Is Larger Better?

Posted by on April 4, 2014 under Caregiver Corner | Be the First to Comment

Does a larger adult diaper absorb more

Question:  Does a large diaper absorb more than a small diaper?

Answer:  No, a large diaper does not absorb more liquid than a small diaper.

Many people assume that a larger diaper contains more absorbent fabric than a smaller diaper, simply because of its size. However, each adult diaper and adult pull up is designed to absorb a specific amount, regardless of its size. Both an extra small adult diaper and an extra large adult diaper can handle the same exact amount of fluid. A high quality, maximum-absorbency adult diaper such as the Prevail Extra Adult Pull Up can easily absorb more than 16 ounces while still keeping the wearer’s skin dry and comfortable. If necessary, the Prevail Extra Adult Pull Up can absorb up to a half gallon of liquid.

Wearing a larger diaper size than needed can actually increase the risk of leakage. Click here to see the 3 most common reasons an adult diaper leaks.

How To Find The Right Size Adult Diaper

A diaper that is either too large or too small will be not only increase risk of leakage, but may also increase risk of skin irritation and breakdown. A diaper should have a snug, comfortable fit. To find the right size adult diaper by height and weight, see these Adult Diaper Sizing Guides. To find the right size adult diaper by waist/hip measurement, try this Adult Diaper Sizing Guide Calculator.

Recommended: 5 Ways to Save on Incontinence Supplies

Total Home Care Supplies logo

 

3 Common Reasons an Adult Diaper Leaks

Posted by on March 25, 2014 under Caregiver Corner | 4 Comments to Read

Why is my diaper leakingHow To Prevent Adult Diaper Leakage

An adult diaper or adult pull up might leak for several reasons, but it may not be why you think. See these three most common reasons for adult diaper leakage and how to prevent them:

1. The size is too large. Many people assume that a larger diaper has more of the absorbent fabric, which leads to greater absorbency. This is not true. Each adult diaper, adult pull up, shield, liner and pad is designed for a specific absorbency regardless of its size. Whether it’s extra small or extra large, a maximum-absorbency adult diaper can easily handle more than 16 ounces of fluid while still keeping the wearer’s skin dry and comfortable. If necessary, a well-designed adult diaper can absorb up to a half gallon of liquid.

A diaper should fit snugly, but not uncomfortably. If the diaper is too large for the wearer, gaps between the skin and the diaper can occur – and liquid can escape through the gaps. Are you wearing the right size? See this Incontinence Product Sizing Guide.

2. The leg seal is broken. Liquid will always find the path of least resistance. Diapers absorb fast – some absorb very fast. But no matter how fast a diaper absorbs, if there is a gap between the diaper and the legs, liquid can escape before being absorbed. The diaper’s leg elastic should be in smooth contact with the skin all the way around both legs – this is called the leg seal.

This can happen even in a diaper that is the right size and fit. Sometimes during a change, leg ruffles can get tucked underneath the elastic seal. One simple way to ensure a smooth seal after each change is to lightly run your finger underneath the elastic around both legs.

3. Inserts are preventing absorbency.  No-one wants to risk a leak, which is why some people feel more secure with an additional liner or pad inside the adult diaper. Unfortunately, this can prevent the diaper or pull-up from absorbing properly, leading to discomfort and leakage. Most liners and pads are designed with a waterproof poly (plastic) backing that secures into underwear with a sticky strip. When these liners are inserted into an adult diaper, the plastic backing prevents the diaper from absorbing properly. Instead of having the security of a maximum-absorbency diaper, the wearer now has the absorbency of just the liner. In addition, the saturated liner can create pressure against the skin, increasing the risk of skin breakdown.

There are some exceptions to this rule. A few inserts are specifically designed to be worn as extra protection inside adult diapers or protective underwear. These inserts are designed without a poly back, and do not prevent diaper absorption. However, the risk of skin damage from liner pressure is still increased. In most cases, an additional liner is not recommended, as it increases risk of leakage and skin breakdown.

See Also: How To Choose the Right Incontinence Product

Click here to see our Recommended Adult Diapers and Pullups

Total Home Care Supplies logo

Ways to Save on Incontinence Supplies

Posted by on February 25, 2014 under Caregiver Corner | Read the First Comment

Daughter with senior mother

5 Ways To Cut Your Incontinence Supplies Cost

Adult incontinence supplies are a regular health expense for more than 25 million Americans. The frequent, recurring cost of adult diapers and pull ups, adult protective underwear, liners and pads and more can add up quickly, becoming a burden to retired adults and family caregivers. Like with many other healthcare costs, there are ways to defray the financial burden and save on some of these supplies:

  1. Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA): Depending on your health insurance plan, you may be eligible to enroll in a Health Savings Account (HSA) or a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) through your employer. Both of these accounts allow you to contribute pre-tax dollars that can be used for any qualifying medical expense. HSAs are offered in conjunction with a high-deductible health insurance plan. With an HSA, the funds roll over from year to year, so you never lose your contributions (consider it an IRA for medical expenses.) An FSA is offered in conjunction with a higher-premium/lower-deductible health insurance plan. With FSAs, your annual contribution does not roll over from year to year, so it’s important to have a pretty good estimate of what your annual expenses will be when you enroll each year. Before setting up an FSA or HSA, be sure to familiarize yourself with what are FSA and HSA eligible expenses.
  2. Tax deductions: According to the IRS, the amount you spend on diapers or diaper services may be tax-deductible if “they are needed to relieve the effects of a particular disease.” If your physician or your loved one’s physician can diagnose medical incontinence, the incontinence supplies you purchase may be tax-deductible, so long as they are not fully reimbursed by an HSA or FSA. For more information on what medical and dental expenses are tax-deductible for the 2013 tax year, read IRS Publication 502.
  3. Buying in Bulk: While buying perishable items in bulk can be hit or miss, purchasing incontinence supplies and other non-perishable items in bulk can be a huge money-saver.  Retailers and manufacturers frequently charge more per unit for smaller amounts than for larger amounts; part of this has to do with packaging, shipping and presentation costs. A package of 18 Large Prevail Adult Pull-Ups can cost $17-$20 or more – or anywhere from $0.96 to $1.11 per diaper. A case of 72 Large Prevail Adult Pull Ups, however, can cost as low as $46 – less than $0.64 per diaper. That’s approximately 40% cheaper! Over time, buying incontinence supplies wholesale can accumulate in significant savings. Be sure to do some price comparisons before settling on a retailer, however; that $46 case of Prevail diapers can cost you $64 or more at another store.
  4. Online shopping: Shopping for incontinence supplies online has many benefits. First of all, prices are often more competitive. Online retailers know that it’s easy for a shopper to compare prices online, making it even more important that they offer low, competitive prices. In addition, many online retailers don’t have brick-and-mortar stores, which can reduce their overall costs and allow them to pass those savings onto their customers. Front door delivery and free shipping is offered by some online retailers, and this can add up to significant savings – both in time and gas money. Items purchased online may also be tax-free, if a national retailer doesn’t have a physical location in your state. Finally, online shopping allows for maximum discretion. Buying incontinence supplies can be embarrassing for many people, who don’t want to be seen standing in the incontinence aisle or buying products in front of people they know. Online shopping allows for maximum privacy regarding your medical needs.
  5. Couponing: Many retailers offer regular coupons when you create an account on their website or sign up for their newsletters. These coupons and ongoing promotions can be significant, taking off $5 at checkout or even a percentage off your order. Coupon and promotional savings can make a difference, especially over time. Look for samples that come with a coupon, or try an online search for “Home Care Supplies” coupons or promo codes.

To browse our full line of low-cost incontinence supplies, visit the Total Home Care Supplies web store.

Click here for our latest Adult Diaper Coupon.

Total Home Care Supplies logo

Cold vs Flu: Symptoms at a Glance

Posted by on February 19, 2014 under Caregiver Corner | Be the First to Comment

Is it a Cold or the Flu

Not sure if it’s a cold or the flu? According to the CDC, over 90% of flu-related deaths occur in people over the age of 65 – which means making the wrong assumption can put our vulnerable loved ones at risk. See the list of cold and flu symptoms compared below:

SYMPTOMS

COLD

FLU
FEVER
 Fever is pretty rare with a cold Fever is usually present with the flu. A temperature of 101°F or higher for 3-4 days is associated with the flu.
ACHES
 Slight body aches and pains can be part of a cold Severe aches and pains are common with the flu.
CHILLS
 Chills are uncommon with a cold Chills are fairly common in most flu cases.  Chills and shivering are a normal reaction to a cold environment, but unexplained chills can also be a sign of the flu.
TIREDNESS
 Tiredness is fairly mild with a cold. Tiredness is moderate to severe with the flu. It’s normal to feel tired at the end of a long day or when youd on’t get adequate sleep, but unexplained tiredness can be a sign of the flu.
SUDDEN SYMPTOMS Cold symptoms are not sudden and develop over a few days. The flu has a rapid onset within 3-6 hours. The flu hits hard and includes sudden symptoms like high fever, aches and pains.
COUGHING
 A hacking, productive (mucus-producing) cough is often present with a cold. A dry, nonproductive cough is usually present with the flu.
SNEEZING
 Sneezing is common with a cold. Sneezing is not as common, but can accompany the flu.
STUFFY OR RUNNY NOSE
 A stuffy or runny nose usually accompanies a cold and typically resolves spontaneously within a week. Stuffy or runny nose can be present with the flu.
SORE THROAT
 Sore throat is commonly present with a cold. A sore throat refers to pain and inflammation in the throat area Sore throat is not as common, but can be present with the flu.
CHEST DISCOMFORT
 Chest discomfort is mild to moderate with a cold. Chest discomfort is often severe with the flu. Chest discomfort refers to pain or abnormal sensations that you feel anywhere along the front of your body in your upper torso.
HEADACHE
 A headache is fairly uncommon with a cold. A headache is very common with the flu, present in up to 80% of flu cases.

People At High Risk For Flu-Related Complications

For most people, the flu develops into a relatively mild illness. The flu is considered mild when infected person does not need medical care or antiviral drugs, and when they recover in less than two weeks. However, some groups of people are at high risk for developing flu-related complications, that can result in hospitalization or even death. People in these high-risk groups include:

  • Adults 65 or older
  • Children younger than 5 yrs old, and especially children younger than 2 yrs old
  • Pregnant women
  • American Indians and Alaskan Natives
  • People with the following medical conditions: Asthma, neurological and neurodevelopmental conditions, chronic lung disease, heart disease, blood disorders, endocrine disorders, kidney disorders, liver disorders, metabolic disorders, a weakened immune system, people younger than 19 years old who are on a long-term aspirin regimen, and people who are morbidly obese

For more information about cold and flu symptoms, or if you are concerned about flu symptoms in yourself or a loved one, please contact your primary care physician.

To browse our home health care products and supplies, visit TotalHomeCareSupplies.com.

Total Home Care Supplies logo

Prescription Medications That Can Cause Memory Loss

Posted by on February 18, 2014 under Caregiver Corner | Be the First to Comment

PrescriptionCould your medication be causing memory loss? For many older adults or adults with chronic medical conditions, irreversible confusion and memory loss is a constant worry. Fortunately, scientists now know that age or a degenerative illness is not always be the culprit. If you are alarmed by forgetfulness in yourself or a loved one, the reason may be stored in your bathroom cabinet.

Any of the following drugs can affect normal cognitive function, contributing to mental confusion, forgetfulness and memory loss:

1. Cholesterol-lowering drugs (Statins)

Common cholesterol-lowering drugs include: Atorvastatin (Lipitor), rosuvastatin (Crestor), simvastatin (Zocor), lovastatin (Mevacor), pravastatin (Pravachol) and fluvastatin (Lescol).

Cholesterol-lowering drugs may be prescribed as part of treatment plan for high cholesterol. Cholesterol plays an important role in the human brain, forming connections between nerve cells such as those necessary for memory and learning. Drugs that lower levels of cholesterol in the blood may also deplete levels of cholesterol in the brain, causing memory loss and mental confusion.

2. Hypertension drugs (Beta-blockers)

Common hypertension drugs include: Metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol), propranolol (Inderal), sotalol (Betapace), timolol (Timoptic), atenolol (Tenormin) and carvedilol (Coreg).

Hypertension drugs may be prescribed as part of a treatment plan for high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, chest pain (angina), migraines, tremors and certain types of glaucoma.  Beta blockers slow down the heart rate and lower blood pressure. They are believed to impede memory by blocking key chemical  messengers in the brain, such as norepinephrine and epinephrine.

3. Antidepressant drugs (Tricyclic antidepressants)

Common antidepressants include: Clomipramine (Anafranil), imipramine (Tofranil), mitriptyline (Elavil), trimipramine (Surmontil), protriptyline (Vivactil), desipramine (Norpramin), doxepin (Sinequan) and nortriptyline (Pamelor).

Antidepressants may be prescribed as part of a treatment plan for depression. They may also be prescribed as part of a treatment plan for other conditions that affect mood, including anxiety disorders, eating disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, chronic pain, smoking cessation and some hormone-related disorders. Tricyclic antidepressants are believed to block the neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine, which also suppresses memory.

4. Anti-seizure drugs (anticonvulsants)

Common anti-seizure drugs include: Gabapentin (Neurontin), pregabalin (Lyrica), topiramate (Topamax), acetazolamide (Diamox), levetiracetam (Keppra), carbamazepine (Tegretol), ezogabine (Potiga), lamotrigine (Lamictal), oxcarbazepine (Trileptal),  rufinamide (Banzel), valproic acid (Depakote) and zonisamide (Zonegran).

These drugs may be prescribed as part of a treatment plan for seizures, nerve pain, mood disorders,  bipolar disorder and mania. Anti-seizure medications limit seizures by depressing the flow of signals through the central nervous system, which also affects memory.

5. Anti-anxiety drugs (Benzodiazepines)

Common anti-anxiety drugs include: Alprazolam (Xanax), diazepam (Valium), lorazepam (Ativan), chlordiazepoxide (Librium), clonazepam (Klonopin), flurazepam (Dalmane), midazolam (Versed), quazepam (Doral), temazepam (Restoril) and triazolam (Halcion).

Benzodiazepines are often prescribed as part of a treatment plan for anxiety disorders, agitation, delirium, and to prevent muscle spasms or seizures. They dampen activity in certain parts of the brain, including areas that involve the transfer of memories from short-term to long-term, resulting in an amnesic effect. Benzodiazepines also have a sedative effect, and they may be prescribed to treat severe insomnia, anxiety that results from depression, and as part of an anesthesia cocktail.

Benzodiazapines drugs build up more quickly in older adults than in younger adults, and they take longer to flush out of their system. This puts older adults at higher risk for side effects such as memory loss, delirium, falls, fractures and accidents. Sudden withdrawal can trigger very serious side effects, including severe sleep disturbance, aggravated anxiety and panic attacks, hand tremor, sweating, irritability and confusion, memory problems, dry retching and nausea, weight loss, heart palpitations, headache, muscle pain and stiffness, hallucinations, seizures, psychosis and suicide. It is extremely important to consult with a health professional before reducing or stopping any benzodiazepine prescription.

6. Sleep aids (Nonbenzodiazepine sedative-hypnotics)

Common sleep aids include:  zolpidem (Ambien), Eszopiclone (Lunesta) and zaleplon (Sonata).

Sleep aids may be prescribed as part of a treatment plan for insomnia, sleep-related issues and mild anxiety. Sleep aids affect the body in a similar way to benzodiazapines, with a sedative effect that also dampens activity in parts of the brain that involve the transfer of memories from short-term to long-term. They can cause amnesia, and for some they may occasionally trigger dangerous or unusual behaviors. Sleep aids can be addictive, and sudden cessation can cause serious side effects and withdrawal symptoms. It is important to consult with a health professional before reducing or stopping sleep aids.

7. Narcotic painkillers (opioid analgesics)

Common narcotic painkillers include: hydrocodone (Norco, Vicodin), oxycodone (OxyContin, Percocet),  Fentanyl (Duragesic), hydromorphone (Dilaudid, Exalgo), and morphine (Astramorph, Avinza).

Narcotic painkillers are prescribed to relieve moderate to severe pain, such as post-surgery pain, severe nerve pain, and pain caused by chronic conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis. Opioid analgesics work in two ways: 1) by stopping the flow of pain signals in the central nervous system, and 2) by dulling the body’s emotional reaction to pain. The chemical messengers that are involved in long and short-term memory are also affected by narcotic painkillers, and memory loss may become a problem with extended use.

8. Parkinson’s drugs (Dopamine agonists)

Common Parkinson’s drugs include: Ropinirole (Requip), pramipexole (Mirapex) and apomorphine (Apokyn).

These drugs are prescribed as part of a treatment plan for Parkinson’s disease, restless legs syndrome (RLS) and some pituitary tumors. Parkinson’s drugs affect the neurotransmitter dopamine, a chemical messenger that plays a role in learning and memory, motivation, pleasure and fine motor control. Major side effects can include memory loss, confusion, hallucinations, drowsiness and compulsive behaviors.

9. Antihistamines

Common antihistamines include: diphenhydramine (Benadryl), clemastine (Tavist), Brompheniramine (Dimetane), hydroxyzine (Vistaril), carbinoxamine (Clistin) and chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton). *Loratadine (Claritin) and cetirizine (Zyrtec) are also common antihistamines, however they do not have the same impact on memory and cognitive function.

Antihistamines are used as part of a treatment plan to help relieve and/or prevent cold or allergy symptoms. Antihistamines may also be prescribed to treat or prevent motion sickness, nausea, dizziness, vomiting and insomnia. Both prescription and over-the-counter antihistamines inhibit the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, a chemical messenger that helps to control a wide range of bodily functions. Antihistamines can suppress activity in the memory and learning areas of the brain, leading to forgetfulness and memory loss.

10. Incontinence drugs (Anticholinergics)

Common incontinence drugs include: Oxybutynin (Ditropan XL, Gelnique, Oxytrol), tolterodine (Detrol), Darifenacin (Enablex), solifenacin (Vesicare) and trospium (Sanctura).

Incontinence drugs may be prescribed as part of a treatment plan for overactive bladder or urge incontinence. Anticholergenics help reduce episodes of urge incontinence: a sudden, intense urge to urinate quickly followed by the involuntary loss of urine. These drugs block the action of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that plays a role in either inhibiting or exciting various bodily functions – such as activating muscles or lowering heart rate. Anticholinergics help prevent involuntary contractions of the bladder muscles that control urine flow. They also suppress activity in the memory and learning areas of the brain, resulting in memory loss over time.

In addition to incontinence drugs, a variety of over-the-counter incontinence products can play an important role in the treatment plan. Adult protective underwear or diapers, pads or panty liners can help individuals to manage their symptoms with dignity. These products can be worn comfortably and discreetly under normal clothing, providing security and peace of mind by eliminating the risk of embarrassing accidents.

For more information about products to help manage incontinence, visit TotalHomeCareSupplies.com, or try the Total Home Care Supplies Bladder Matters blog.

Total Home Care Supplies logo