Thanks for this article. It contains important information.
If you read all the possible side effects, it is a wonder that anyone risks giving their loved ones these drugs. And yet, when/while they work they can provide a signigicant improvement in quality of life. In my experience they are definitely worth trying, under the guidance of a doctor with dementia expertise.
When my husband started Aricept a neighbor who is a pharmacist came over and cautioned me not to expect a noticable improvement. At best the drug might slow down the decline. But my husband does not have Alzheimer's; he has Lewy Body Dementia, and Aricept is considerably more effective in that disease.
If the doctor thinks there is a chance that some drug may help, I think it is worth trying. Try only ONE drug at a time. Start at a low dose. Watch for side effects. Build the dose up gradually. Alas, one size does not fit all. What works for one makes someone else worse. It is a tedious process to come up with a combination of drugs that contribute to better quality of life.
How long is a reasonable wait to see if a behavioral or emotional change is related to the medication? How long before we can assume such a change is NOT due to the medication?
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Do Alzheimer's Medications Cause Anger and Aggression?
If you read all the possible side effects, it is a wonder that anyone risks giving their loved ones these drugs. And yet, when/while they work they can provide a signigicant improvement in quality of life. In my experience they are definitely worth trying, under the guidance of a doctor with dementia expertise.
When my husband started Aricept a neighbor who is a pharmacist came over and cautioned me not to expect a noticable improvement. At best the drug might slow down the decline. But my husband does not have Alzheimer's; he has Lewy Body Dementia, and Aricept is considerably more effective in that disease.
If the doctor thinks there is a chance that some drug may help, I think it is worth trying. Try only ONE drug at a time. Start at a low dose. Watch for side effects. Build the dose up gradually. Alas, one size does not fit all. What works for one makes someone else worse. It is a tedious process to come up with a combination of drugs that contribute to better quality of life.