My 84-year-old mother has moderate dementia and is experiencing dramatic urinary incontinence. My siblings and I recognize that this is not unusual, but one did research and found that memantine (which she is currently on at what the doctor said is the highest dose) may increase incontinence. Has anyone noticed this (if there is even a way to figure it out!)? Thanks!
Wiith the dementia there comes a point of no return in the ability to control urination, and you may have reached that point. I remember being suprised by the changeover as well, because it seemed a bit sudden to me--even had Mom checked for a UTI, but it was just the disease progressing.
There are things you can do to work around it a little, like reducing post-dinner fluid intake, and timing any diuretics to match her 'awake' schedule better.
Was wondering if the increased urine output an issue because she isn't in incontinence briefs yet?
Only one of those 3 can be changed and that is her medication, so perhaps it's time to talk to your mothers doctor about decreasing the dosage or change to another to see if that helps. But if the Memantine is doing what it's supposed to be doing now, you may just have to way the pros against the cons, and leave well enough alone, and deal with the increased incontinence.