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Patsyretired Asked September 2016

Husband shouting at night while awake?

Has anyone else experienced this? My husband has started shouting about 4-6 words sometimes repeated no connection between one set of words and another. It used to last about 15 mins but now it's getting up to 2 hours and he says he can't stop. We are awaiting an appointment for a neurologist re possible dementia.

EXPERT Carol Bradley Bursack, CDSGF Sep 2016
This could be dream talk or he could be in a mid stage. Whatever the reason, the neurologist will work on getting a handle on it. Meanwhile, trying to do all that you can to keep things calm before he goes to bed and keeping the bedroom comfortable may help. If you take notes each night about the timing and the conditions, that may help the doctor with a diagnosis.

Some melatonin may help as well though you may want to give his primary doctor a call before you try it.

I hope that you'll check back in with us for an update.
Take care,
Carol

lindabf Sep 2016
CherokeeLady, When my Mom was having these symptoms (especially the seeing "huge bugs" that I needed to squash and "a man coming after her" - causing her to wreck her room as she fought him off, etc.) - we found that 5 mg of Namenda every evening with her dinner totally took care of these symptoms. 10 mg was too much and we didn't even try the Namenda XR because it still provides 10 mg over a day and she only needs or responds well to 5. If she's not already taking it, it might be worth a try. It has been our "miracle drug" for 8 years an if we miss a dose, we can tell the difference immediately. She sleeps calmly through the night now -- no talking to hordes of people I can't see, hovering at ceiling level. It must have all been absolutely terrifying for her - and it was pretty scary for us, too. Amazing that a tiny pill with a tiny amount of a chemical can sometimes "click" things back into place. Lots of resources warn that it's effects are temporary so I keep praying that our "temporary" will continue to be longer than the norm.

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anonymous275053 Sep 2016
I think all of Us Who Lived with our elderly Parent's experienced this, at least I know I did but it never alarmed Me since I put it down to dreaming while asleep. I often said to My Late Mother YOU WERE TALKING MAD IN YOUR SLEEP LAST NIGHT, and Mother would have asked WAS I REALLY? oh yes You were having a right good natter. But it was harmless. I'd suggest not to worry.

Cherokeelady54 Sep 2016
my mother does the same thing at night she yells out a bunch of words that dont make sense, and talks to herself thinking that she is talking to someone but no one is there,also she has been hullusinating,(i probably spelled that wrong)but has been doing that alot more then usual,and she has been seeing the nuologist( spelled wrong to) to early in the morning for me) but she is in the middle stage of dementia, so yes it probably is dementia that your husband has,i feel for you because my mother is getting worse, for the past week she kept saying she has fuzz on her hands which there was nothing on them but was just in her mind, her dementia is really getting bad and the meds that shes on is not really helping,they upt her meds so many times and still not helping, i really dont want to put her in a nursing home because i already lost a aunt and a brother in the nursing home and when my oldest sister found out the same day she had past away that night

anonymous272157 Sep 2016
There are many causes for hallucinations, and a neurologist, as well as some psychiatrists and others can help diagnose. Yes, some are just sleep talk, some can be treated, and two hours worth a night can keep everyone awake, making him worse. My Dad talked in his sleep, but I couldn't make sense of the few words that I understood. He said he was dreaming of talking to people from his past. He also spoke to people he saw in his room, like his dead brothers, or his sergeant from Pearl Harbor days. It's a lot for you to have to deal with. Take care, and let us know how it works out.

twopupsmom Sep 2016
My husband went through a year of what you describe, most of the time I would just gently reach over and hold his arm for awhile & he would stop, but other times it would be very angry aggressive shouting, no touching then as arms could swing out then I just piled a couple of pillows between us. He is on TRAZADONE at night as well as SEROQUEL 25mg and he sleeps through the night and no more episodes. Thank goodness, they are scary waking one ( me) out of a deep sleep.

Madhuri24 Sep 2016
Yes!it is hallucinations. My mother does that too. Very loud in the middle of night and I have to get up and give her a small shouting to stop it. Lest it disturbs the neighbours.Can't help. Feel sad to see her in this state.

Dimple7 Sep 2016
A very common cause for hallucinations and babbling can be a vitamin B12 deficiency. B12 by an IV may be necessary (as opposed to an oral supplement) and the behavioral problem may stop. My sunt and my husband were both diagnosed with dementia automatically. A second hospital and a smarter doctor diagnosed my aunt's B12 deficiency 20 years ago. I had to press to have my husband's B12 checked 3 years ago. He was cured of his "dementia" within 8 hours. Definitely ask that B12 be checked (a simple blood test) before having a loved one endure more complicated diagnostic measures.

Agfoley Sep 2016
Lately my 91 year old mom has been having such episodes but not as bad BUT it's my cue to check for a UTI and after antibiotics, she's okay. Yet now I think it's her advancing dementia cuz it's happens a bit even when I know her UTI is gone. I did not know about Nemenda as per an earlier response. Gotta talk to her doc about it during her next appointment. He doesn't want to prescribe a sleeping med. I know she's not B12 deficient as per a different response cuz of a recent physical she had and all was well. So I have been giving her melatonin gummies each night which helps. I just know she needs to be able to sleep well. Great insight here which I treasure because docs not always helpful - maybe if they had to care for loved ones in their disease as ours do they would understand our situations. I feel like I'm learning on the job but I'm not a doctor - understandable. And we have a compassionate doc but he doesn't seem to get it. Know what I mean? I'm not looking for a quick fix but I don't want my mom to suffer if there's something that can ease her mind due to dementia. It's about quality of life for her and my life and my marriage.

Llamalover47 Sep 2016
Whatever medications your husband is on have manifested themselves into hallucinagenic actions/thoughts, etc. Meds can make the person "mutter," say words, smell "faux" smoke and more.

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