Given my experience as a pharmacist and as the past president of the California Board of Pharmacy, I have a very good understanding of the appropriate and safe use of medications.
Yet, when adverse drug events (ADEs) impacted my own Mother who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease, it was very difficult to understand exactly what was going on. My father, also a pharmacist, and I saw sudden changes in behavior and a frightening decline in my Mother's health.
We knew she had had a severe reaction to a new drug and had reduced the dose already. While the diarrhea and vomiting went away, we did not recognize that other new "symptoms" were also ADEs from the same drug and one of her old medications- one she had been on for years!
Luckily around the same time, I was introduced to Linda and Erick Von Schweber, founders of SURVEYOR Health. When I asked for their help they had me create a free membership and enter my Mom's drugs at www.surveyorhealth.com. They then got online with me to review my Mom's situation.
By using the Medication Risk Maps, we were able to see that ADEs from two of her drugs were having an impact on her electrolyte balance, even with the first drug at the reduced dose. Not as obvious as throwing-up, it turned out that the new drugs were causing her suddenly low values of sodium and chloride which in turn were causing hallucinations, changes in behavior, making her weak and causing her to shake when she stood up.
When we took Mom off the problem medications, all the new symptoms cleared up and she is quickly returning to her old self. Although she still has Alzheimer’s and will continue to be forgetful, she once again has taken an interest in her appearance and to enjoy going out to dinner and other social events.
Afterward I said to Linda and Erick, "Thanks so much, both of you. I don't know how healthcare providers and consumers get on without this. Really amazing. We were ready to take her to the emergency room. Even with two pharmacists in the family we could not see what was happening until using your tool. Amazing."
Thank you for saving my Mother's life.
Holly Strom, BS, RPh
Chief Operating Officer
Strom and Associates, LLC