The doctor wants to take my husband off his Alzheimer's medications. I fear he might decline, but what are your thoughts on this?
He's doing ok on the medications. He only has occasional incontinence. He is easy to care for, not verbally abusive or anything. He's covered under the VA, they pay for his medications and I fear they want to just cut costs.
I'm with you....don't rock the boat, or as we say, don't upset the apple cart! I will call his doctor tomorrow to tell him I do NOT want my husband to go off his meds. I've been doing research on discontinuing his meds and it can cause rapid decline in some patients, I don't want to take that risk when he is doing fine on them....duh!
My husband's behavioral neurologist (a researcher) frequently said, "we could try discontinuing X, but he is doing so well now that I hate to rock the boat." Dementia drugs work for a limited number of people. If they seem to be working for your husband, celebrate!
Mom's doc said the benefit of memanatine lasts about four years but she stayed on it longer, much longer. Why risk a decline when you cannot be sure what the reaction will be?
My husband has been on Memantine and Donepezil for 4 1/2 years now. He does just fine on them and I'm with you, if it's not broke, don't try to fix it!
Meds for dementia provide a benefit for only so long. Then many doc's will want to take them off, VA or no VA. Sometimes when talking them off the meds there is a steep decline, sometimes not. It is impossible to know for sure. That is why they call it practicing medicine. I am of the school of thought, as it sounds like you are, if it is not broke do not fix it.
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Don't rock the boat!
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What meds is he on and for how long?