Are there benefits of Xanax use by person with dementia?

If you trust this doctor, follow his directions. If you do not, you need to find another doctor. We are not doctors and,imho, we shoud not make medical decisions.

JumieJ, it was the hospital doctor whom I never met who prescribed this. Both GP & cardiologist fine with her not taking Xanax. She sleeps like a baby with a generic Tylenol PM product without all the nasty counterproductive side effects. Maybe Xanax will be appropriate down the road. Thanks to everyone who has responde to my post. Great community!

My Dad has Lewy Body dementia, and the dr. gave a script for Xanax over a year ago. I gave it to him a few times but it seemed to have the opposite effect. At 89 years old, the only prescription he takes it thyroid, and he seems to be super sensitive to any other medicines.
He is in the advanced stages, and thankfully not too agitated most of the time, I give him melatonin every night before bed, and most nights he sleeps fairly well, also, I have found that lavender oil, on a cotton ball in his pillow, and bedroom seems to help when he is agitated.

The benefits do not out way the side effects, get your loved one of it immediately. It should be used once in awhile to relax. Daily use of it actually makes it worse, it builds up in the systems, and can actually bring on those issues.

Well, the doctors had my father on this medication, and I suppose it worked to reduce his anxiety at not knowing what was real and what was fantasy, or knowing when and where he was sometimes. It was hard to watch his rather fast deterioration. Sometimes I wouldn't give him the Xanax in the morning, against the doctors wishes, and he would come alive--we could talk! It was wonderful. However, he would get anxious at little things. So, take care when giving this medication, and only "as needed". My father was so much more alive and responsive when not on this medication. My own doctor told me that Xanax is like giving someone a frontal lobotomy!
In the final stages of dementia, my father mostly just slept the days away. He became less and less aware of reality and less connected to this life. He smiled and expressed his thankfulness for my being there, and became an angel.

I read the reports about Xanax and dementia...after my mom starting exhibiting signs of it. However, they did say in the reports that is was long term use of the medicine that accelerated the dementia and my mom was on it for several years. My warning would be this....my mom found it impossible to get off ativan once she was put on....she was 84.....and finally we had to stop trying to reduce her. So think carefully, consider her age and keeping her comfortable. But know the possible problems of long term use and the problems of getting her off it. Keep in mind making these decisions are really really hard....just know you are doing your best to keep her comfortable. And you are so right about the benefits vs the possible longer term cost.

Every patient is different so you MUST view your Mom based on her own situation. For example, my Mom was on only 1/4 of 0.25 Xanax x 2 daily for months after her diagnosis. Most of her docs said that is ridiculous, couldn't possibly be helping. But it made all the difference in the world to HER. Psychological? Probably, but who cares? By the time she was close to dying 1.0 x 4 daily wasn't anywhere near enough. She was finally put on a combo of Haldol cream with a couple of other meds that I applied inside her arm at her elbow. Very quick acting. Her anxiety was far worse than her pain. But, many people say that sedatives and anti-anxiety drugs are a huge no-no and many others say every dementia patient should be on them. Personally, for those who know what is happening to them, as my Mom did with FTD, I don't know how they could live without them. For those still able to walk, which my Mom could not, they must be closely monitored on anti-anxiety meds, because they will impact balance issues and cause falls!!