Top medications used in LTC

Specialties Geriatric

Published

Does anyone know where I could find a list of the most commonly used meds in long term care or have a list themselves? I need to brush up on them. Thanks!

neurontin, xanax, ativan, tylenol, miralax, benefiber, tylenol, tramadol, oxycodone

Specializes in Hospice.

basically all meds on the drug hand book... especially psych meds

I recently had a pt with end stage CHF and he remained on over 30 meds even after he was put into hospice care! Crazy! You bet your bottom I said something! Was I treating symptoms or the adverse side effects of these meds?! Well, his significant other felt this was a step in the direction that was right for him. He passed away very peacefully with her at his side. As she looked at his face through the tears, you could sense her hope that she had done the right thing.

Specializes in Hospice.

Sometimes even if patients are put on hospice, their meds retain, it's up to the doctor to discontinue it.. Hospice will add meds specially for pain and anxiety

Specializes in Emergency and Critical Care.

This is an older post but things you can do, go on line and you can get a list of the top 100 meds prescribed in LTC you should also know the Beers criteria for geriatric patients both of these would be very helpful for anyone working in LTC

synthroid, namenda, digoxin, lipitor, colace, senna, citalopram, aricept, metformin, metoprolol, hctz, sinemet, seroquel, vit D, vit B, calcium, FeSO4, areds, lortab, percocet, roxanol, alprazolam, lorazepam, lidoderm patches, exelon patches, albuterol, spiriva, advair, ABTs.

I've only been working as an RN for 1 month and I'm in LTC. Smiling so much because I've seen ALL of these. It's like you work where I work!! ?? Laughing at all these other posts too LOL...

Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

I've noticed when I've been out on surveys that a LOT of residents are on Seroquel. Popular drug, that......only trouble is, it's not supposed to be used for dementia, and even when it's used for psychotic symptoms it isn't supposed to go on forever. I know sometimes APs are necessary, particularly when there are co-morbid mental conditions involved. But there are an awful lot of people taking these powerful medications at least partly because most NFs lack the staff and the resources needed to manage their agitation, wandering, emotional outbursts, and other 'problem' behaviors.

We see that in the ridiculous staffing ratios and the lockstep routines that keep the facility operational, but leave precious little time to walk with the resident who's trying to find her kids because they should have gotten off the school bus an hour ago, or hold the hand of a weeping man who just had one of his lucid moments and remembered that his beloved wife of 70 years is dead. There is also the tendency on the part of some prescribers to medicate the symptoms rather than do a thorough investigation into the possible causes of the distress; after all, they're 80 and demented, what else could it be?

So yes, I think NF residents not only receive too many vitamins and supplements, but also too many antipsychotics and anxiolytics. OTOH, I don't think depression is treated anywhere near adequately, but that's a rant for another day. :)

Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.

While developing sildenefil for use for pulmonary hypertension, a "delightful" side effect was found to be prolonged engorgement of the member. Thus, a whole new "disease" called erectile dysfunction came into vogue and insurance companies gladly paid for prescription costs for Viagra and it's close cousins, but still couldn't find their way to pay for birth control for millions of American women!

I had a female pt on Viagra too. I thought it was a mistake, but it wasn't. It was for her stiff lungs.
Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.

I just shake my head at the residents receiving Occu-vite or I-vite and, wait for it, they are legally blind. Um, yeah, no. There's no vitamin that'll be fixing that problem!

Reminds me of a resident who was so excited when her friend brought her some pills (Ivite) that were going to make her see again. It was not fun to have to explain to her they probably wouldn't work but this same friend believed her when she called her friend one day from a land-line and had her convinced that she was lost in the woods behind Pamida 10 blocks away.

Luckily the police called us first before starting to search for her.

And luckily they called us on the day she called in a bomb threat, she tried to convince them all the staff were locked in the dining room, never a dull moment!!!

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