My mother's SN decided to put her on Welbutrin for 5 days then have her go off for 4 days. She has been on this medication for 20 years. When I asked about it, I was told this is a CA law and needs to be done twice a year; the staff monitors mom's behavior to note any changes. When we came to visit my mother last Sunday my mother was having uncontrollable crying; it was her fourth day off of her medication. This is puzzling to our family; the doctor is out of town so we cannot ask him. Could I have someone from your nursing staff comment? As power of attorney do I have any authority in this matter? Thank you.
As cmagnum says, MANY drugs take weeks to build up in the system and weeks to get out of the system. Stopping them for a few day will tell you nothing. I know someone who just got off of Lexapro and the psychiatrist told her she won't know the full impact of going without the drug for six months!
I cannot imagine a law like the one the nurse described to you. So please do fill us in when you get to the bottom of it!
I don't know what an SN is, but she was wrong telling her to take it for 5 days and then go off of it for 4 days. It is an anti-depressant which takes about 4 weeks in your system to really work. I've been on that med for 10 years.
Which POA do you have? Durable or Medical or both? Medical POA would give you the most authority in this situation.