This question presumes that there are comatose people who, despite not ‘waking up’ (or whatever the correct term is), still show a high degree of brain activity.
If that presumption is valid, then what happens when a severely depressed but medicated person enters a coma? Do they still receive their medication? From what I understand of depression, even dreams do not necessarily offer a respite from the suffering—so wouldn’t stopping such medications cause a loved one to suffer?
In addition, I gather that great care should be taken with people who decide to no longer take their medication (i.e. both the physical and mental withdrawal symptoms can be severe). Is this taken into consideration when someone is admitted to long-term care?
Lastly, what about changes of medication – dose amount and type. From what I understand, over time people’s doses change and meds are switched. Without any feedback from the patient, is the last prescribed medication/dose maintained?
Oh, I used depression just to illustrate this question—I’m also curious about procedures with OCD, schizophrenia, etc.
Morbidly curious,
Rhythm
IANAD – but if there’s no meaningful brain activity going on, why would you need to treat said brain activity?
Oh… it just occurred to me that I may have needed to put in a disclaimer or two~
I’m not about to enter a coma, nor is anyone I know is in a coma. (As far as I know, that is…)
I’m sorry for the awkward phrasing of the OP.
I said "This question presumes that … despite not ‘waking up’ … they still show a high degree of brain activity.
That is, though someone like Ms. Shivo does not fit this description[sup]*[/sup], there are indeed people who are in comas, and do show a lot of brain activity–but they just don’t wake up.
I hope that makes sense.
Rhythm
[sup]From what I understand, that is. Please don’t think I’m baiting a debate in the wrong forum[/sup]
I see a fair number of comatose patients. Coma often implies that the patient cannot swallow pills safely. Some comatose patients might choke on their own saliva, so these patients are intubated for their own protection.
In general, then, solid pills that are important for lungs, heart and kidney are given intravenously, or else as suppositories, sublingual pills that dissolve under the tongue, or shots. While pills can be crushed and given with liquids, this still represents an aspiration risk. Most psychiatric medications are stopped unless their is a very compelling reason not to do so. Partly because many are available only in pill form. Partly since it is hard to judge their effect in a comatose patient. Partly since some of the patients are comatose since they overdosed on their psychiatric medication.
Also, they might end up getting a feeding tube (down the nose, or in the abdomen), for liquid nutrition (like Ensure), depending on how long they are in a coma. Lots of medicines come in liquid form or the usually tablets can be crushed, and sent down the feeding tube.
True enough. But even when using a feeding tube or crushing medicines, psychiatric medicins are often stopped without a compelling reason not to do so.