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My husband (age 55) has had declining cognition for quite awhile. He has been on disability since he was 38. He suffers from high blood pressure, asthma, urological problems, sleeps excessively, depression, and problematic lack of mobility (due to 4 back surgeries and 3 neck surgeries). He also has kyphosis and falls about once a month or more. His primary doctor feels his cognitive problems result from 2 suicide attempts years ago when his brain was deprived of oxygen for a time. Another doctor (a neurologist) says that his problems result from the long-term use of too much medicine. On Sunday, I drove us by the house we lived in until 2006. About an hour after we got home, it was obvious my husband was not in reality. He started crying and talked about wanting to go home, that (our home) was not his home, he didn't recognize anything, and he mentioned several times he wanted to see his mother (who we haven't seen in several years). This continued the rest of the day. He kept calling me by my first name like I wasn't here. This morning he seemed better, so I went to work. While at work, he left me a voicemail on my phone and called the office phone, asking me to come to the "new place" and that someone was coming to take him to the "new place." I can't believe that a medicine that is supposed to slow the decline of cognition and help some with memory and cognition, could cause a reaction like this. I have never seen him like this. Could driving by our old house have triggered all this? I wish we never would have driven by that house. Or could it be a reaction to one of the other meds he takes (he takes a total of 20 different ones).

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You should be running this by his doctor, but in the meantime, can you look up for yourself the possible drug interferences for Aricept? I'm all for becoming an expert on physical problems when they arise, so I don't look like an idiot in front of the doctor when I ask questions. But then that's just my little quirk. I'm a research junkie when it's something that I don't understand.
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It is possible it is a drug reaction. It is possible it was triggered (but not caused) by seeing the old house. It is possible that something else altogether is behind this change in behavior.

If he is seeing more than one doctor (which seems likely), I hope they each know all the medication (including any OTC) he takes. But you've been at this a number of years and I suppose you know that.

Drug reactions are highly individualized. Certainly Aricept doesn't cause that kind of reaction in the overwhelming majority of patients who take it. But that doesn't mean it is impossible for that reaction to occur, especially considering the number of other drugs your husband takes.

Certainly you need to discuss this with the doctor who prescribed Aricept and perhaps with the other doctors familiar with his case. A sudden and severe change in behavior needs to be investigated.

It sounds like you and your husband really have a lot of health issues to deal with, and at such a young age. I wish you a speedy resolution to this particular crisis.
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My mother was having some physical and mental difficulties 2 months ago when she was taking Aricept and Welbutrin (an antidepressant). Both can cause dizziness and the patient needs to be sure to drink plenty of water. My mother fell three times at her AL in a month's time. The third time she broke her back and ended up in the hospital.She was dehydrated and immediately needed IV's. She had a new doctor who is tapering her completely off of the Welbutrin, and he took her off of Aricept. What a difference! She is 83 and still has cognitive impairment but is not always sleepy and slurring her speech.
She had a stroke so has aphasia, but now is aware of her difficulties and smiles and jokes about it instead of not even noticing she has it. She is in a Rehab where the staff is almost 6:1--much better. I hope you are receiving positive help and encouragement from your family and friends. Praise God you are still keeping your covenant of marriage, and looking for ways to bless your husband. I prayed for you today. May the Lord bless you and give you continued grace. Is your husband open to reading the Bible (particularly Psalms) and John 1? As a Christian I receive much needed grace, comfort and strength from God's word. God bless you! I hope your doctor will be able to come up with some answers.Please keep us updated.
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I have just had the same experience with Namenda which is another drug for dementia. My mother became so out of it that it was scary. The doctor told me to keep her on the drug for awhile longer but I took her off this week. She would just stand and look confused and not know what to say to anyone. It was very scary. She was on it for 5 weeks and I had enough. If you read up on these drugs they do say side effects of confusion and boy did my mom have it. If you don't trust what the doctor says and those side effects don't diminish within a couple weeks, then my personal opinion is that it is making the situation worse instead of better. One doctor my mom saw while her's was on vacation said to me that those drugs really do nothing. She was so confused that I didn't know if there was something else going on causing it. As her caregiver, I see her everyday and knew something was drastically wrong. I will see within a couple of days if it was the drug making her confused or her dementia has indeed worsened. Either way, no more drugs for her for memory....
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My husband is on Namenda and a low dosage Exelon Patch. He has a problem with having to get up several times each night to go to the bathroom. Does anyone else have this problem with these drugs causing this?
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My mother-in-law was diagnosed with Alzheimer about 8 years ago. She was given Aricept and Namenda. After a few days using the drug, she became anxious, had hallucinations, got a bit aggressive and was always wanting to go home and asking for her mom and dad. She kept saying I wanted to hurt her, that I had her prisoner and she needed to go home. It was terrible!! I researched the side affects about these drugs. I found over 150 complaints about Aricept from family members of patients receiving this drug. Needless to say, I mentioned this to her doctor and they agreed to allow her discontinue its use. I started giving her a Natural supplement that did the same that Aricept was suppose to do, but without the side effects. She has had Alzheimers for the last 10 years and continues to use the Natural supplement, but has been very calm, not aggressive at all, and still walks normally, eats well on her own and is still pretty alert. Although she doesn't remember anything or anyone anymore, I consider she is doing pretty well with this disease for having it for so long.
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Karisue, My brother takes Aricept and it helps him so much to talk. In 2003 he had shoulder surgery and got massive case of MRSA at the hospital. Fever was 105 for 4 days and he was sepsis and almost died. After 2 months hospital stay he went home with many issues. Long story is the ( Generic Drug ) for Aricept DOES NOT work for him at all. Medicare made him take it for about 5 weeks and he lost ability to bring out his words to even talk and make sense. So sad it was. I took him back to dr and he understood our issue. I had to fight Medicare along with drs help and finally got Aricept back. He at least is able to communicate and bring out most of words. PLEASE tell the Dr the GENERIC does not work and makes him another person. I doubt it was your old house that has triggered any of this. Perhaps it does not go with some his other drugs. My mother had strokes and the Aricept & Namenda together made her very normal mentally. She later was bed ridden but the mental meds worked great for her. Hope this story helps a bit. God bless you and him. Life is so complicated because our doctors have clues in these cases but at the sametime, its all trial and error. Breaks my heart having experienced seeing and working hard on these type of problems.
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I would like to know what the Natural supplement is in order to do the same. Thank You
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Annelia, that is an extremely common problem. It was THE problem we had to solve in order for me to keep my husband at home. At least in our case it was not caused by drugs, but by the dementia itself. Just about any reaction is possible with drugs, so definitely discuss this with his doctor, but I'd be surprised if the cause was those drugs. I'd appreciate the learning experience if you care to post back later after you've gotten some medical advice. May I ask what your husband's basic diagnosis is, and his age?
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Annelia, in your post you said that a neurologist said that his dementia was caused by long term use of medication and then prescribes another drug...stop me from biting off his head but common sense says that every medication has some form of side effect and when combined with other meds it is a train wreck waiting to happen! I was horrible in chemistry (which is why I'm not a doctor) but I still fondly recall my chemistry class when I added one drop of god only knows what and the lab had to be evacuated. Adverse side effects happen daily and many go unreported. Anyone taking over two meds need to check and cross reference with a PDR (physician desk reference) or get a report from a PharmD. As for natural meds some studies show that two glasses of apple juice daily increases the production of acetylcholine in the brain- which is what Aricept does- minus the side effects which also is increased incontinence.
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Nataly1, it was KariSue, not Annelia, who mentioned the possibility of overmedication causing cognitive problems. Annelia is the one whose husband is getting up several times a night. Hard to keep track of who said what, I know, but useful in formulating replies.
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My husband was misdiagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2009. Given Aricept. Started getting strange next day and by the 2nd day did not know me, where we were, etc. (we had been together 20 years at that time and in same house). Called psychologist who prescribed Aricept. Said drug didn't have that effect. This went on for 2 1/2 weeks with me calling Dr. every day or so (when I could get in touch with him). Finally he said "Well, take him off of it - it won't make a difference" Next day he got up wanting to go to work (had been retired for 10 years)I said we were at our home. He looked like he had been hit with a lightening bolt.He looked at me, Looked around and said "Where have I been? I don't ever want to go there again!
Internist said if symptoms started in a few days after starting drug (this applies to any new drug) that it most likely is the drug that is at fault for any reactions.
By Aricepts own literature - it takes 3 or 4 months to work. It May not work, it may work for about 6 months, or it may make the person worse. After 6 months the person will be where he would have been if he had not taken the drug.
THIS DRUG IS POISON!. (My husband had Normal pressure hydrocephalus and PTSD( from the war he served in had come back)
Many things cause cognition problems. Please check out all drugs, vitamin shortages, heart problems, anything that might be currently causing a lack of oxygen.
Aricept is on a level with LSD as far as I am concerned. I highly suspect DR.s' receive a "good payment" for prescribing this drug.
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I agree with desert192, get him OFF of it. It is okay for some, but not all. There is a woman who brings her husband to daycare where my Mom went. 3 years ago he was president of a large company and now in daycare not knowing who he, or she, is. HE was given 2 statins combined and it melted part of his brain the MRI showed. Drugs can be so evil, use your gut feeling and get him off of it .Dont believe the dotors, they rarely say a drug caused something. Do you know they get paid for every rx they write and we keep the drug companies alive?
I am sorry for what you are going thru, take care.
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Thanks Jeannegibbs for bringing it to my attention....long day at work. Time to drink my apple juice :)
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Annelia, The product is call Transfer Factor Recall of 4Life Research and you can find information of the product I have been giving my Mother-In-Law for the past 3 years on this site:

I do agree you should always consult with your doctor for any medication changes. I did consult with the doctor and did research in the PDR and other many medical sites. By the way this supplement is included in the PDR (Physicians Desk Reference) and many physicians utilize these products. This is NOT a supplement that you will find in natural food or vitamin stores. This is actually not a vitamin or herb. Its a combination of a molecule that has been in research of over 50 years. Go to the site and you can print a PDF fact sheet which you may take to your physician, so he/she can determine if this would be helpful for your husband. Good luck...I hope it works well for you.
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Reality check here.

desert192, I am truly sorry for what you and your husband have gone through. The basic problem was a misdiagnosis. I've had some experience with that myself, and it is hellacious. I was being treated with anti-anxiety meds for what turned out to be diabetes that became life-threatening before the mistake was discovered. (Funny how none of those anti-anxiety drugs fixed y blood sugar levels.)

My husband has been taking Aricept for 8 years. When he first started taking it a neighbor, a well-respected pharmacist, came over and explained to me a lot of what you said about the drug. He said not to expect a large improvement and that the best we could hope for was to help slow down the rate of decline for a while. He was basing that advice on studies in Alzheimer's patients, and his observations of that population. But my husband does not have ALZ. He has Lewy Body Dementia, and as it turns out, Aricept is far more effective in this population! For almost all of the loved ones in my local support group and online group for this disease, it has made a remarkable difference in cognition and in reducing hallucinations. So, sorta of slightly good for ALZ, remarkably good for Lewy Body, and disasterous for your husband, who had neither of these conditions but who was misdiagnosed with one of them. I am truly sorry for the reaction your husband had, but Aricept is not poison and is not LSD.

Another example of a drug that has very different outcomes for different populations is Haldol, frequently used in emergency rooms or nursing homes to calm psychotic behavior. It is often effective for ALZ patients, but can be fatal or cause permanent damage in up to 50% of patients with LBD. My husband and I carry wallet cards with this information. The national Lewy Body Dementia Association has education of emergency room doctors as one of its goals. A good drug or a sort-of-good drug for one population can be dreadful for another population. That is one of the reasons misdiagnosis can be so destructive.

Doctors do not get payments for every Rx they write. Who would keep track, how would they prove it, and who would do the paying? Not all doctors are equally smart about handing out prescriptions, but I doubt that greed motivates their mistakes. Smart doctors try ONE drug at a time, start on very small doses, watch reactions closely (for example, tell caregivers exactly what to look for and call them about) and increase to a therauputic dose gradually when they are sure the patient tolerates it well. Not all doctors are smart about that.

Of course we keep the drug companies alive. We keep the automobile companies alive by buying cars and the farmer's markets alive by buying locally grown produce, and the incontinence products companies alive by buying pads. So what? That is hardly a reason to stop using drugs, driving cars, or eating cucumbers.

I would very much not want to be on this journey with my husband without the help of the drugs he takes.

My advice to KariSue remains the same. Seek medical advice on this change in behavior. Play detective and write down clues to discuss with the professionals.

Good luck to all of us!
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I have no faith at all in aricept. A few years back my mother was given Aricept after a stroke. She started on a low dose and graduated to a higher dose after 10 days. Right after the increase in dosage she went into a stupor and never really improved. She may have also suffered a mini stroke. The doctors said that there was no correlation, but I think differently. I suggest you have serious talks with all the doctors so see their take on your husband's change in behavior.
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I just wanted to let you know that the drs certainly DO get a cut for all rx's they prescribe. these are called "perks" and they do keep track of every rx prescribed electronically. If you worked in a dotors office you would be as shocked as I am. Please research this as its 100% true. They also get perks for whom they send you to to have you have your lab work and xrays done. This money is split monthly between them if its their associate partners office.
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The article you site, luvmom, shows that doctors get bombarded with heavy drug advertising and "honorariums" and free trips and all kinds of perks at "seminars" to try to influence them to prescribe certain drugs. I'm aware of that. I do not think it is a good practice, and I hope regulating agencies and the profession itself will clean up that act. It also applies to researchers whose work is supported by commercial interests. It raises questions about objectivity. But I have still not seen any evidence that doctos get paid directly based on the prescriptions they write.
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As to the drugs causing the need to urinate frequently, how old is he? It is common for most older people to need to go every 2 to 4 hours night or day.
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I don't think the Aricept would do this. It is a progression of the dementia. He is loosing the short term memory but will remember the things from years ago. The drive by the old house probably triggered the last reaction. My Dad was on Aricept for over 3 years and the only thing to worry about usually is stomach upset or diarrhea when beginning
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I do not know what could be the right answer for this problem either ,but my wife started on aricept and I took her off it and she has been on Namenda for two years and she is not responding to its use. I am concideing taking her of them meds.
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My father was put on Aricept and went off the deep end. His behavior worsened and we, with the guidence of his physician, took him off of it. Same with my mother-in-law years before. Dad is now on Namenda and seems to be tolerating it just fine and since we weren't sure how fast he'd decline off of it, things seem to be alright.

Absolutely, confer with the physicians. Even if your husband was taking no other mediction, the Aricept might be the incorrect choice of medication for him. If I understand you correctly, you saw a marked difference in his behavior after he began the medication? I, personally, am wary of generic brands due to the fillers, but that's just me. Check back with the docs.
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THERE IS NO DRUG THAT DOES NOT HAVE SIDE EFFECTS. AND, SIDE EFFECTS ARE INDIVIDUAL. DO AS MUCH RESEARCH AS YOU CAN. LOOK FOR ALTERNATIVES. ALSO I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOU AND EVERYONE ELSE TO A WEB SITE. IT IS CALLED BEINHEALTH.COM. THE BOOK IS A MORE EXCELLENT WAY BU HENRY WRIGHT. CHECK OUTTHE WEBSITE, GET THE BOOK AND READ IT. YOU WILL NOT VIEW ILLNESS THE SAME WAY ONCE YOU HAVE. I HAVE BEEN CARETAKING MY MOM SINCE JAN'08. I AM AN ONLY CHILD. I RECONCILED WITH MY DAD AFTER 36YEARS AND BURRIED HIM IN MARCH, 2011. I LEARNED ALOT FROM THIS TEACHING WHICH AIDED ME IN MENDING FENCES WITHMY DAD AND CONTINUING TO CARE FOR MOM. AT PRESENT, I HAVE MOM OFF MOST OF HER MEDS WHICH HAS MADE A BIG DIFFERENCE. I DO GIVE HER AIRICEPT, BUT THE LOWEST DOSAGE POSSIBLE. INSTEAD I GIVE HER OMEGA 3X A DAY. SHE IS ON SENSISPAR FOR KIDNEY FUNCTION AND RESPIRADONE TO HELP HER SLEEP. I GIVE HER FOLIC ACID WHICH IS WHAT PREGNANT WOMEN TAKE TO HELP REBUILD CELLS. AND I GIVE HER GLUCOSAMINE AND CHONDROTIN. I WILL NOT ALLOW THE DR'S TO DO WHAT EVER THEY PLEASE WHEN I TAKE CARE OF MOM 24/7 WITH "NO RESPITE." CHECK OUT THE BOOK WHICH IS WRITTEN ON THE PREMISE THAT ONE SHOULD ALWAYS BE HEALTHY AND NEVER GET SICK WHICH IS A MORE EXCELLENT WAY.
BLESSINGS AND I PRAY FOR ALL WHO READ THIS BOARD.
DPRAYS
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According to a nuerologist and a gerintologist at the Veterens Administration hospital in Los Angeles, these drugs are both ineffective and can have a great deal of unwanted drug interacion. There is also the issue that hydration must be increased and anyone who cares for an elder with memory issues knows-hydration is a daily battle. The doctors to whom I spoke both said that these drugs where trialed at the VA and were considered to be without value thus they do not supply them to Vets. Interestingly, during the time I was taking my father to the VA they were terifficabout supplying anything he needed. Another Dr. had my father on Arecipt for a period of one year-his status continued to decline. We have had him on no interventive medicene for four years since and his decline has been on the same level as it was when he was medicated. I do chart his behavior. We do not give him any antidepressents or anti anxiety medicene as it they are fraught with known negative side effects for seniors.
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kvetch99, I think the key here is, ineffective for what?

Eight years ago I was given about a half a dozen meds, sequentially, to treat anxiety. Turned out I had diabetes, which my doctor failed to recognize in spite of text book symtoms. None of those anti-anxiety pills did a darn thing for my blood sugar levels, and I wound up in ICU. Now, those pills might be effective against anxiety, but I wouldn' know -- I didn't have anxiety! :)

Aricept was developed to treat Alzheimer's disease. For that it is of marginal or questionable effectiveness in most patients. I think those television ads that make it seem like a wonder drug are immoral. I can see why the VA would not want to waste resources on such a small potential benefit.

But it turns out that Aricept and that class of drug is far more effective in treating Lewy Body dementia and Parkinson's with Dementia. The brain pathology in these diseases is quite different than AD. My husband (85, LBD) has been taking Aricept (and now a generic) for 8 years, with very observable and measurale success. Did it cure him? No, of course not. But he can think much more clearly than before he started the drug. His quality of life is significantly improved. That the VA won't supply Aricept for vets with Alzheimer's makes some sense. That they won't supply it to vets with Lewy Body Dementia seems very strange. (I don't think they should supply anti-anxiety meds to control diabetes, either, by the way. :))

I commend you for charting your dad's behavior and monitoring closely the effect of drugs and absence of drugs. Your father is lucky to have you as his advocate. I don't see a mention of your father's diagnosis. In any case, he should take only the drugs that are effective for him, and it sounds like you are doing a good job of monitoring that.

I think that I am doing a good job for my husband, too, and I'm very satisfied with the approach of the specialist he sees at the Mayo Clinic. As it turns out, several drugs, including Aricept, are effective for my husband. But the same principle applies -- if it isn't working, don't keep taking it.

Wouldn't life be easier on caregivers if one size did fit all in treating elders?
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My husband has been on generic Aricept for 3 weeks. I do not see ANY improvement in his memory and cognitive function. He continues to have bad days and better days, rarely good days. He fell today while I was at work, but says he did not get hurt. He does take anti-depression meds and anti-anxiety meds as well as a boatload of other meds (20 different ones in all). I am aware that I am going to have to make plans to place my husband in a care center when safety when I'm not home becomes an issue. I never thought we would be dealing with things like this in this decade of our lives - my husband is only 55. I thought Aricept was supposed to slow the progression of dementia, but unless it takes longer than 3 weeks to see any improvement, the drug doesn't seem to be working for my husband. Maybe it is because he takes so much other medicine, I don't know. And maybe I was expecting it to be a "miracle drug".
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KariSue, my heart goes out to you. This is a very difficult thing to face at any time, and at such a young age it is doubly difficult.

To watch some of the commercials for that drug you would think it was a miracle. For some people it can be very effective. What did the doctor say about how long it should take before you notice anything? How long should you continue using it? Did the doctor caution you to look for any particular side effects? I don't blame doctors for prescribing this drug for people with dementia -- it might help. It does for some people. But I think it should be considered a trial, and not a permanent medication until results are seen.

What is your husband's diagnosis?
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My husband was to be on the drug for one month. The doctor said it could take 3 weeks to see any difference. He will go back to his doctor on August 10. I don't see any changes for the better in his memory or cognition. He is on the lowest dosage; his doctor said there are 10mg and 23mg doses. I don't know if an increase in dosage would do any good or not. He takes so many other meds (5 psychiatric drugs, a med for high blood pressure, a med for urological problems, a thyroid med, 3 meds for asthma, a nasal inhaler, a med for gastro-esophogeal reflux, a med for osteoporosis, a med for constipation, a med for nerve pain, a muscle relaxant, a narcotic pain patch, and a narcotic pain pill for breakthrough pain. And he takes all these every day.

He has multiple diagnoses of a variety of conditions. His doctor said he is likely too young for alzheimers, but it is definitely some kind of dementia. She mentioned that a definitive diagnosis of some kinds of dementias and alzheimers can't be made until autopsy. She feels that his declining cognition is likely due to long-term effects of his brain being without oxygen a couple times during 2 suicide attempts years ago. Another of his doctors feels his problems result from the long-term use of too much medicine. Added to all this, he has a severe lack of mobility, due to physical deconditioning. He can't exercise because he can't breathe when doing so, and he can't breathe because he can't exercise.
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The doctor is telling it straight -- the dementia pathology can't be pinpointed until autopsy of the brain. Research that compares diagnosis while the patient was living to actual findings in the brain upon autopsy show a not-very-good rate of diagnostic accuracy. So you can't blame the doctor for not wanting to say, "I'm ordering this for Alzheimer's", or Frontal Lobal dementia, etc. She's just ordering it because it helps some dementia patients and it is worth trying. If 10mg doesn't do anything, I doubt 23 would, but that will be the doctor's call. My husband takes a ton of pills, too, but Aricept is very effective for him. I doubt the number of pills is the problem, but there could be one or more that doesn't play nice with Aricept.

Is your husband on oxygen? It would seem like being able to exercise some would have a big benefit.

You certainly have way more than your share of challenges to deal with. My heart goes out to you.
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