I am a home health care provider -- a babysitter for the elderly, of sorts. I have no real medical training but I do love my work. Right now I have a particular concern. I am caring for a young woman who 3 years ago attempted suicide by overdosing on over-the-counter sleeping medication. After a brief hospitalization she undertook psychiatric counseling and has been in treatment with a therapist for about 3 years now. She is a new patient and I do not know her well at this point.

I am concerned that she has two medications in her nightstand which appear to me to be sleeping medications: Clonazepam and Temazepam. Both medications say "Take 1 tablet at bedtime for sleeplessness". Should I allow these medications to be so available to her? There appear to be quite a few tablets in each bottle and I am wondering if it is safe to leave them so close at hand for her.

She has bouts of depression when she is tearful and speaks of being a "burden" to her family. Her husband does not seem to be terribly concerned. He tells me not to be too sympathetic to her because she is just looking for attention.

What I am concerned about is whether or not she will be able to overdose on either of these medications. What is a lethal dose? Should I remove all but 1-2 of these tablets from the bottles or should I lock up the bottles entirely? I do not want this woman to harm herself and definitely do not want it to happen on my watch.

Between the two of us, I also think her husband is JERK!