Asenapine, audiologist, neurologist
Fortunately, asenapine worked at least as well as clozapine in terms of managing my mum's emotional and mental health, as well as getting decent sleep. Also, her dizziness is overall better i.e. the intensity oscillated between bad and less bad about twice a day, whereas previously it was just bad throughout the day.
The psychiatric doctor continued the same medication but we told her of a problem: I called a few private pharmacies and none of them had asenapine in stock. The fastest we could get hold of it was 2-3 working days after ordering it specially. Hence, we needed a few tablets to tide over before it arrived. We were lucky but embarrassed that the doctor then gave us their last sample strip of the medicine @@
The next appointment was with an audiologist at ENT, who conducted hearing test. She strongly recommended hearing aids for both ears. After some discussion, it was decided that at the next appointment, mum would try 3 sample hearing aids, all different brands but similar price. Once she determines which she likes best, the audiologist would give us a letter for us to bring to hearing aid centre(s) to purchase at discounted price (RM 2k+ each i.e. RM 5k). There is cheaper one at RM 1k+ each but the difference in quality is sufficiently significant for the audiologist to suggest us opting for at least the RM 2k, if we can afford. Our financial situation isn't dire enough to qualify for hearing aids from government.
In the meantime, mum's dizziness lessened slightly overall. It may or may not related to this: her blood sugar had been consistently at 4.8-5.0, a level that the psychiatric doctor recommended.
Neurologist conducted some tests during consultation and couldn't detect signs of neurological problems. However, he did mention something useful: Gabapentin can cause dizziness, as a side effect, especially if taken for a long time. Coincidentally, it was something that the psychiatrist said we could reduce (I asked because I remember the psychogeriatrician said she could make do without it) if mum didn't need it (which she didn't when she was warded) but do so only after the dosage of asenapine was fixed. Meanwhile, the neurologist ordered a CT scan on mum's brain.
At the next appointment at the psychiatric clinic, as expected, the doctor maintained the dosage of asenapine at 5mg per night. I took the opportunity to inform him about what the neurologist said and after discussing with the psychogeriatrician, he advised mum to forgo Gabapentin but can resume taking it if pain comes back.
The psychiatric doctor continued the same medication but we told her of a problem: I called a few private pharmacies and none of them had asenapine in stock. The fastest we could get hold of it was 2-3 working days after ordering it specially. Hence, we needed a few tablets to tide over before it arrived. We were lucky but embarrassed that the doctor then gave us their last sample strip of the medicine @@
The next appointment was with an audiologist at ENT, who conducted hearing test. She strongly recommended hearing aids for both ears. After some discussion, it was decided that at the next appointment, mum would try 3 sample hearing aids, all different brands but similar price. Once she determines which she likes best, the audiologist would give us a letter for us to bring to hearing aid centre(s) to purchase at discounted price (RM 2k+ each i.e. RM 5k). There is cheaper one at RM 1k+ each but the difference in quality is sufficiently significant for the audiologist to suggest us opting for at least the RM 2k, if we can afford. Our financial situation isn't dire enough to qualify for hearing aids from government.
In the meantime, mum's dizziness lessened slightly overall. It may or may not related to this: her blood sugar had been consistently at 4.8-5.0, a level that the psychiatric doctor recommended.
Neurologist conducted some tests during consultation and couldn't detect signs of neurological problems. However, he did mention something useful: Gabapentin can cause dizziness, as a side effect, especially if taken for a long time. Coincidentally, it was something that the psychiatrist said we could reduce (I asked because I remember the psychogeriatrician said she could make do without it) if mum didn't need it (which she didn't when she was warded) but do so only after the dosage of asenapine was fixed. Meanwhile, the neurologist ordered a CT scan on mum's brain.
At the next appointment at the psychiatric clinic, as expected, the doctor maintained the dosage of asenapine at 5mg per night. I took the opportunity to inform him about what the neurologist said and after discussing with the psychogeriatrician, he advised mum to forgo Gabapentin but can resume taking it if pain comes back.
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