Father refuses to take any AD meds rx. Can taste the Seroquel in most things we mix so, we asked his neurologist if there was another med that was less bitter, effective, or a liquid form (Seroquel cannot be compounded as a liquid, we have already had a pharmacist try it, and the taste could not be masked). Especially the evening meds (trazadone and seroquel) VERY DIFFICULT to get him to eat anything an hour or two before he goes to bed, or in the evening at all. Will occasionally eat it in potted meat (yuk) or in pudding, but we cannot seem to find enough foods that he will eat, or that will hide the bitterness of the Seroquel especially. ALSO, Seroquel comes with a coating that does not grind well, and is visible. Please help with suggestions.

Dear oldestdaughter,

It is very common for people with AD to refuse to take medications for several reasons. Some don't take it because they are paranoid, while others don't take it becasue they believe nothing is wrong with them. Does he have any medical problems? If he does, you may trick him by saying that the medication is for a physical illness. Another idea would be to put a fake name outside the pill bottle (like medication for blood pressure instead of seroquel). Just make sure you keep up with what name you made up for the medication.

A google search on topical ativan can give you some information on lotions you can apply on people with disease who refuse to take pills by mouth. You may consult with his doctor regarding the topical medications. If he does take it in meat or pudding, you might just need to give that to him more often or as needed.

Feel free to call our 24-hour helpline for further information or support. Thank you for using the Alzheimer's Assocation Online Community.

Sincerely,

Mini V.

Thank you, MiniV for your response.

Do you know of any empty capsules that can be bought, where we could crush up his meds, put them in the capsules, and perhaps in a bottle of pills that he already takes? My sister has thought this through, and thinks she could convince him to take his familiar meds more than once or twice a day, by putting them in one of those containers?

Thank you again, for just being there, for all the folks dealing with A.D.

Dear oldestdaughter,

Your sister has come up with a great idea. Since we don't provide medical advice, I will not be able to provide you the most accurate information to your question. Please check with your local pharmacist, or health food store on whether they have empty capsules or know who sells them. You may be able to obtain some resources by doing a search on the google website. In addition, you may try your dad's doctor, if you haven't already done so.

The local chapter would be another place to ask questions about local resources. You can reach the local chapter by calling the 800 number during weekday business hours. I wish you the best in finding the right solution for your dad.

I encourage you and your sister to call our helpline if you have any further questions, concerns or need support. Please continue to post your concerns, questions, and updates on the Message Boards. Thank you for using the Alzheimer's Association Online Community.

Sincerely,

Mini V.

I'm pretty certain we were told NOT to crush seroquel (or,in fact,most of her drugs). Ask the pharmacist, not the doctor, which pills can be crushed--MANY should not or they lose their effectiveness.
You may be able to cut the pill in half with a pill cutter and then put them in applesauce for him to swallow. or there may be a form that dissolves in mouth (as there is with aricept).
But I would be careful about crushing them...

As a caregiver, I would want to stay with the milder Seroquel instead of a stronger med, but
Risperdal comes as a wafer that will disolve in the mouth, and Zyprexa comes as a liquid.

Apple sauce is not good for disguising bitter meds.
Some caregivers have success with covering medicine pieces with peanut butter, on a small piece of bread. Perhaps add in jelly to counter the bitterness.

My husband is in an ALF for Alzhemiers patients. He gets his meds crushed and placed in ice cream.

Thank you brightwings and others would have responded.
The Seroquel is alright for crushing; In fact, our local compounding pharmacist attempted to compound it into a liquid (using the exact pills, dosage we are giving him), but he could not disguise the extremely bitter taste, which was amplified by suspending it in liquid, so we had to abandon that.

Do you find that AD persons are picky eaters? My dad is, and much more so than he was prior to AD. My sister is struggling along, getting into his morning cereal without a problem, but the evening meds are still a challenge, getting him to eat ANYTHING in the early to late evening.
Again, THANK you for your support and suggestions, everyone.

Try putting the pills in Rice Pudding. It worked for my wife

one of the issues with crushing meds for my mother was Acid Reflux (Gerd), the pills irritated her esophagus and hiatal hernia.

Don't know if this is true but:
I stopped by a health food store today and the owner suggested putting crushed meds in active culture, PLAIN yoghurt (regular or low fat)-- that the acidophilus helped protect lining..

thanks, Brightwings --
My dad is still very cognizant of what he's eating, and is a VERY picky eater. Any kind of yogurt he will not eat. I just wish that AD meds were formulated in liquids to begin with, considering the nature of the disease and the prevelance of this issue of refusing to take certain meds, you'd think the pharmaceutical companies would take note? Guess not, hey?

We are trying to keep dad as healthy as possible with his diet. It's just that if he decides not to eat something my sister has prepared with the crushed meds, she has to dump that food (wasting the meds) and find something else he will eat. Thanks again for your ongoing advice. Together we find answers and solutions to the daily quest with AD.

Yes, that Seroquel is a bitter med. I mixed it with applesauce and then tasted it and it was terrible. Sometimes I tell my DH that he has a fever and must take an aspirin (Seroquel). He can be just wild in the morning and about 20 minutes after I get him to take the pill, he is much more sedate, unless he spits it out! It sure helps our household! Nancy

Thanks, Nancy. We find that the Seroquel works well with my dad's irritable behavior, too.
Whatever stage of AD our dad is in - he is still very cognizant of his meds. He has lived alone with AD for a period of time in which he fended for himself; we found signs all over his house "Take Meds" so his level of compensation for AD was pretty good. He reads the bottle AND the markings on each of the pills he takes (heart meds, HPB, etc) and refuses to take any new med. My sister has been successfully putting it crushed into his a.m. cereal (Cheerios) and milk, letting the cereal absorb most, if not all of the milk before he eats it (fortunately, he likes it that way); the evening doses of Seroquel and Trazadone are the hardest for her to put into food that he will (a) eat later in the evening; and (b) to disguise the bitter taste. He will usually eat it in ice cream, but again, it is such a challenge some days.
THANKS for your suggestion. Our dad will get to a point where he won't inspect or question his meds. He is not very compliant with "doctor's orders" either. Quote: "That's ridiculous!" (smile)

i am so glad you have mentionrd seroquel. the dr put my husband on it and i havent given it to him yet.the side affects of it scares me a little but of course there are side affects with everything.cereal icecream are good for getting meds in him. god bless everyone out there as caregivers it is so hard and hurts so bad to see a loved one going through this but god eill get us through

In the morning I crush the seroquel really well and mix it with a tiny bit of warm water and pour it into her orange juce. this seems to work very well. The juice seems to mask the taste.

I am replying to this discussion late but I just found the thread.
My mom has been on meds since I was in high school - sadly some 30 years ago. She has scleraderma and then pre-AD was given Metamucil and water for her compacted issues (due to scleraderma) and thena bladder pill - the one for the gotta go NOW.....so meds were a way for her.
But with her AD - like today - she refused to get out of bed, eat or take meds of any kind. My dad called and asked if I could stop by and see if I could help. Well....I was told to get the heck outta her room.
Even tho I like the idea of the little white lies about this AD med being a med for BP or something else is a good one - it doesn't work when they flat out refuse to take any meds.
How do you get them to get up and eat? Today has been a stay in bed all day....first time for this in a while but it does happen.
Kathy