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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Suggest Treatment For Dementia And COPD

My mother is 95 1/2 and has dementia. She is frail and has copd. The pa now put her on .25 of morphine for pain which we, her children, haven t noticed her having pain. PA says she is having pain so needs the morphine rather than Ativan and Tylenol. She seems to be sleeping more and responding less since on morphine. We are very concerned. thank you
Fri, 23 Oct 2015
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Pulmonologist,  's  Response
Thanks for your question on Health Care Magic.
I can understand your concern.
In my opinion, her current symptoms are mostly due to morphine.
Morphine is opioid analgesic. It acts directly on brain.
Along with analgesic effect, it causes sedation and respiratory depression.
So her more sleeping and responding less is mostly due to sedation of morphine.
Another reason is high carbon dioxide (hypercarbia). COPD patients are known to develop hypercarbia if respiratory center in brain is suppressed. High carbon dioxide can cause lethargy, sleepiness etc.
So better to stop morphine and consult pulmonologist to rule out hypercarbia.
Hope I have solved your query.
I will be happy to help you further.
Wishing good health to your mother. Thanks.
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Suggest Treatment For Dementia And COPD

Thanks for your question on Health Care Magic. I can understand your concern. In my opinion, her current symptoms are mostly due to morphine. Morphine is opioid analgesic. It acts directly on brain. Along with analgesic effect, it causes sedation and respiratory depression. So her more sleeping and responding less is mostly due to sedation of morphine. Another reason is high carbon dioxide (hypercarbia). COPD patients are known to develop hypercarbia if respiratory center in brain is suppressed. High carbon dioxide can cause lethargy, sleepiness etc. So better to stop morphine and consult pulmonologist to rule out hypercarbia. Hope I have solved your query. I will be happy to help you further. Wishing good health to your mother. Thanks.