Ask Helen
Celebrity agony aunt Helen Lederer gives you her heartfelt advice every week
All He Ever Gets Is More Tablets
I’ m worried about my elderly father-inlaw who seems to be on every kind of medication going. He is a poor soul, but no one really seems to know exactly what is wrong with him. Every time he goes to the doctor, he simply seems to get more tablets. When I spoke to my husband about this, he told me to leave it to the health professionals, but surely someone should be asking some questions?
Imust say that I am in agreement with you. Health care professionals are truly amazing at what they do and must operate under great time pressures as well. However, on occasion, some visits to the doctor can perhaps result in a consultation that addresses only one issue. This can result in a plan to address that issue only, with a prescription for a new tablet.
As a result, a possible consequence (one that has been flagged up by
professionals) is that one might end with many treatments that all overlap, or even produce new symptoms that could require more treatment.
If this is the case, you would all benefit from a clarification of treatment and ongoing monitoring plan. It would be a good idea to talk to your father-inlaw about all of this. Maybe a joint GP visit with both of you could result in a fuller appraisal of his medications and health. It would be sensible to book a double appointment for this!
Your father-in-law is blessed to have you as a daughter-in-law, to keep tabs on his tablet situation and prepared to seek clarity and knowledge for both his sake and his carers. I’d suggest you also invite your husband to get involved in this new awareness – perhaps he is a little in denial about his father’s illness.
I’d suggest you also invite your husband to get involved in this new awareness