My mother-in-law was discharged from the hospital yesterday. She is fighting pneumonia and had been having diarhea. It is suspected she might have lung cancer, but finding out was judged too risky, as she s 98. She was previously prescribed questran for the diarhea and now avrox for the pneumonia. She is also taking enalapril, hydroxyzine Hcl, vitamins and iron. She recently started taking synthroid. Her doctor is on vacation. Today she has complained of confusion, and is very upset. I thought maybe it was because of the disruption to her routine after being in the hospital for 3 or 4 days. But I m wondering if it s a drug interaction.
Thanks for your question on Chat Doctor. I can understand your situation and problem. Pneumonia in old aged (98) patients is very fatal, and complication rates are very high. Pneumonia can complicate confusion. So her present confusion can be due to worsening of pneumonia. So better to consult pulmonologist and get done 1. Repeat chest x ray2. Sputum culture and sensitivity Fresh chest x-ray is needed to determine whether pneumonia is worsened or not. Sputum culture is needed to identify the causative organism and sensitivity will guide effective antibiotics.Don't give haphazard antibiotics, as it will worsen the pneumonia. Consult pulmonologist and start appropriate effective antibiotics.