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My Mom used the Exelon patch. After a while we discontinued it as we weren't sure it was helping and she was on a number of other meds as time went on. She requested to go back on it because she said she noticed a difference and felt it had been helping, so she restarted it and made sure her patch was changed regularly ( the med person wrote the date on it). Eventually her health deteriorated and her memory worsened some as well and it was eventually discontinued as she progressed to hospice from another issue. She had short term memory loss but we were not given a specific diagnosis of a the type of dementia and did not have Alzheimers.
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Reply to Pjdela
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Me personally,I would not have put my Mom on any meds that slow the progression. Like said the damage is already done cannot be reversed. IMO, it would have to be done in the very early stage and most of the time, it is diagnoised much later. For me, the med would have to stop it in its tracks and very early on.
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Reply to JoAnn29
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duplicate
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Reply to AlvaDeer
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Since there is no cure--you are right--why, really, would you want prescriptions?
And if you mean treating symptoms that come along with Alzheimer's and other dementias, such as hallucinations or agitation, depression, then that is up for discussion with the MD or medical team caring for the loved one, and should be discussed with the POA helping to manage care.

It is exceptionally difficult to deal with medicating this disorder/disease process. What works for one patient may not for another, and over medication can be as much a problem as NO medication. All meds are difficult to the kidneys to clear. And all have side effects. In some cases while the mental anguish is helped the mobility and balance is harmed and there are increases in falls.

Wishing you the very best of luck, and a really good MD who has/will take the time to help you.
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Reply to AlvaDeer
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There are many drugs that "promise" to SLOW the progression.
Nothing will reverse the damage already done to the brain.
There are many drugs in testing phases so there are Clinical Trials that people can get into. You can ask your doctor if you would qualify for any.
You can call the Alzheimer's Association and see if they are aware of any trials in your area.
www.alz.org
1-800-272-3900 this is a 24/7 number
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Reply to Grandma1954
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There are:

- 6 for cognition & memory symptoms (traditional symptomatic treatments: donepezil, rivastigmine, galantamine, memantine, memantine+donepezil, benzgalantamine).

- 2 are disease-modifying treatments targeting amyloid (lecanemab, donanemab).

- 1 for behavioral symptoms (brexpiprazole for agitation).

You will need to work through a neurologist depending on your clinic/network/health insurance.
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Reply to Geaton777
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Any medications that are now available to "treat" any of the dementias at best only slow down the progression for about 6 months or so, and often the side effects are not worth even that.
But you can talk to a neurologist to find out what may be helpful for your loved one.
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Reply to funkygrandma59
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