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Does Hrydralaxine,Omepraxole Or Digoxin Increase Respiratory Rate?

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Posted on Tue, 7 Oct 2014
Question: Hi there.. I have a 85 year old grandfather who is on hospice right now for dementia.. the last 2 weeks he has been having respiration rates of 36 to 40 but all the vitals bp, o2, pulse are normal. He is on
asa 81 mg qd
hrydralaxine 12.5; bid
omepraxole 20mg qd
digoxin 125mcg qd
potassium10 meq qd
furosemide 20 mg bid
docusate 100 mg bid
paxil 10 mg qd
prednisone 20mg 2 tabs qd ( was added for difficulty of breathing)
tamsulosin 0.4 mg 2 caps hsn
doxasosin 1mg hsn
lisinopril 20 mg hsn
zolpidem 5 mg hsn
quetiapine 25mg 1 at dinner 1 at hsn
lovastatin qd 20mg hsn
carbamezapine 200 mg bid ( for his trimalgia)
albuterol nebulizer every 4 hrs prn (was added for difficulty of breathing)
they also added morphinr .25 ml every 2 hrs and lorazepam .5 mg every 4 hrs for increased respiration rate
He also has a pace maker
what could be causing his high respiration rates?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Prakash H Muddegowda (28 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Medications not responsible.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for asking.

I am Dr. Prakash HM and I will be answering your query.

Looking at the clinical symptoms and query, my opinion is as follows:

1. None of these medications can specifically increase respiratory rate. In the list there are more respiratory/ CNS depressants than stimulants.

2. Possible cause of increased RR appears to be possible pulmonary edema secondary to cardiac failure/ respiratory infection. His increased RR is giving other values to be reasonably normal.

3. Chest X-ray and routine hemogram results are necessary for further opinion. If nothing noted, further HR-CT and blood culture may be required. Treatment is dependent on cause.
If Possible, do provide more history.

Hope it helps.
Any further queries, happy to help again.
Dr. Prakash HM


Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Prakash H Muddegowda (17 minutes later)
If it were either chf ( no visible signs of swelling) or pulmonary edema (no respiratory infection) are there meds for this or is aggressive tretment involved?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Prakash H Muddegowda (14 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Cause needs to be ascertained.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for asking again.

The increased RR won't be for long with all the values being normal. The muscles are bound to get tired and he will require some amount of assisted respiratory support.
Yes, there are clinically no signs but increased respiratory rate suggests otherwise. It had to be in lung or brain. As he has some amount of dementia, lung could be the possible organ involved.
Investigations are necessary.
Without identifying a cause, starting aggressive therapy might be possibly a wrong way and further complicate.
Have to investigate or wait for another symptom to develop. Clinical symptoms are late. Chest X-ray, ultrasound, CT, sputum and blood culture, hemogram may help.

Hope it helps.
Any further queries, happy to help again.

Dr. Prakash HM
Note: Get a consultation booked to know more about aging related medical issues. Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Prakash H Muddegowda

Geriatrics Specialist

Practicing since :2004

Answered : 2138 Questions

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Does Hrydralaxine,Omepraxole Or Digoxin Increase Respiratory Rate?

Brief Answer: Medications not responsible. Detailed Answer: Hi, Thanks for asking. I am Dr. Prakash HM and I will be answering your query. Looking at the clinical symptoms and query, my opinion is as follows: 1. None of these medications can specifically increase respiratory rate. In the list there are more respiratory/ CNS depressants than stimulants. 2. Possible cause of increased RR appears to be possible pulmonary edema secondary to cardiac failure/ respiratory infection. His increased RR is giving other values to be reasonably normal. 3. Chest X-ray and routine hemogram results are necessary for further opinion. If nothing noted, further HR-CT and blood culture may be required. Treatment is dependent on cause. If Possible, do provide more history. Hope it helps. Any further queries, happy to help again. Dr. Prakash HM