My mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's 3-4 years ago, and is in the early/mid stages. Thus, she's getting Lequembi injections. Who knows if it is helping.
She is frequently "woozy," but her description doesn't exactly fit the vertigo wording that her doctors have used. About once a week or less, she has a more extreme dizzy spell and has to find a seat or semi-collapses onto my dad, her caregiver. Her blood pressure rarely and barely spikes during these times.
Also, the amount of sleeping that she does is epic. After a 14-hour night of sleeping, she will wake at noon-ish, eat a small breakfast with pills, egg, toast, electrolyte drink, and then an hour and a half later go back down for a 3-hour nap. I do remote/Zoom chair yoga with her sometimes 2-3 times a week, if schedules allow. She does alright with that most of the time.
Any insight or shared experience on these two seemingly extreme issues is welcome. I've searched the dizzy issue on this site and the suggestions include: visit the ENT for earwax buildup, pants may be too tight (a possibility, as she has gained weight since the diagnosis), and some other medicine ideas like Stemetil (Procloprazine) three times a day, Anti-vert (generic is Meclizine), anti-histamines like Benedryl, or OTC options like chlorpheniramine.
We are waiting for EEG and CAT scan results, in case those reveal anything.
If her doctor can't give an adequate answer, then find a geriatric care doctor to be her primary.
Also, I am learning, that many people over the age of 60, are deficient in certain vitamins, minerals, or simply not getting enough protein, or fluids.
You can have a dietician review her diet and give you some guidance.
Personally, at 63, and a full time caregiver myself, I have learned that adding more protein to my diet, as well as a couple extra vitamin supplements, helps me to feel my best.
My mom was always dizzy, I told everyone there was mold in moms house, they of course knew more than me, but my eyes were telling me otherwise. Then one day an addiction celling fell down, guess what , there was mold!!
They tested everything.
Finally a dentist found a barely cracked tooth.
It might not hurt to check her teeth.
doesn’t hurt to start with the obvious…it’s free and non-invasive
I would NEVER believe any doctor adamantly insisting what symptoms an IV med "cannot" cause! That's insane when you think about it. No doctor on earth has that knowledge especially about patients with sensitive systems.
AI Overview
Dizziness, including vertigo, can be a symptom of Alzheimer's disease, particularly in later stages, and can also be an early sign for some individuals. It can be related to damage to the vestibular system, which helps with balance, or to problems with blood flow to the brain in the case of vascular dementia.
How dizziness and Alzheimer's are linked:
Vestibular System Damage:
The vestibular system, located in the inner ear and brain, plays a crucial role in balance. Damage to this system, which can occur in Alzheimer's, can lead to dizziness and increased risk of falls.
Spatial Disorientation:
In later stages of Alzheimer's, individuals may experience spatial disorientation, which can manifest as vertigo (a sensation of spinning).
Blood Flow Issues:
Vascular dementia, which can co-occur with or be mistaken for Alzheimer's, affects blood flow to the brain, potentially impacting the cerebellum (which controls balance) and causing dizziness.
Early Warning Sign:
Some studies suggest that balance issues and dizziness can be among the earliest signs of Alzheimer's or a risk factor for developing the disease later on, according to a study from Washington University in St. Louis.
Important Considerations:
Not All Dementia Patients Experience Dizziness:
While dizziness is a common symptom in dementia, it's not experienced by everyone with the condition.
Other Causes of Dizziness:
It's crucial to rule out other potential causes of dizziness, such as low blood pressure, dehydration, or other medical conditions.
Impact on Daily Life:
Dizziness can significantly impact a person's daily life, increasing the risk of falls and affecting their ability to perform everyday tasks.
Importance of Assessment:
If you or a loved one is experiencing dizziness and has been diagnosed with dementia, or if you are concerned about potential cognitive decline, it's essential to consult with a healthcare professional for proper assessment and management.
"Call your doctor right away if you have changes in vision, confusion, dizziness, headache, nausea, or seizures. This medicine may cause infusion-related reactions, which can be life-threatening and require immediate medical attention."
To be very honest, with these expensive drugs you need to understand that doctors often get as much as 6% of the cost of the drug as kickbacks. Yes, STILL today despite laws attempting to prevent this sort of thing.
You say that the dizziness was a problem before this drug, making it perhaps less likely involved; still, I would take great care, and would go with a good gerontologist, even consider palliative care now for your Mom if this can be done.
Please read...
https://www.leqembi.com/en/potential-side-effects?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Branded%3BS%3BPH%3BBR%3BNER%3BCO%3BBR&utm_term=leqembi+side+effects&utm_content=Brand+Leqembi_Side+Effects_Exact&gclsrc=aw.ds&&gclid=CjwKCAjwvO7CBhAqEiwA9q2YJesiM7zL1WGXqVYNzUjX0HdFmB-p3WB_rQUo3MagmLtBTSww5QHaxRoCYVsQAvD_BwE&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20905685236&gbraid=0AAAAApH8iYu_2Yxbn1L-61UulSgHKbhkf
And I literally just "Googled" side effects of Leqembi infusions and dizziness is one of many side effects. Surely your mothers doctor should know that right?
I would call them today and ask about taking your mother off of the Leqembi and the proper way to stop it, as I'm sure it's really not helping anything anyway.
And the fact that your mothers doctors haven't associated her dizziness with the Leqembi, leads me to believe that you need to get new doctors for her that actually know what they're doing.
Now as far as your mother sleeping a lot, that does happen with folks with any of the dementias and will only get worse as the disease progresses.
You say the BP doesn't spike, but is it too low, or are there postural changes? Measure it with good ARM cuff (preferrably Omron machine) both lying down and sitting up, then standing. Is this a side effect of her medication. Adding in a lot of things, and particularly things like benadryl, noTORIOUS for making people dizzy and exhausted (is in fact used by many as a sleep aid) is going to confuse so many issues.
Alzheimer's is progressive. I don't know that you will slow it or prolong life, and I am uncertain how much you WANT to prolong life when it means your mom's mind and all she is will be exiting now, whether her body does or not.
I am so very sorry. Let her sleep. More sleeping and less eating will become the rule overall no matter what you do.
While you can still get Mom in a car it would not hurt to check on the ear wax.
Some of the alzheimers meds are pretty strong. Mom was on C Memantine and also the Exelon patch. She would wake up perky and eat her breakfast and then within an hour of taking the C Memantine she would be in a heavy sleep.
Did she have the dizziness issues prior to taking the injectible? Have you talked to the doctor about this being a side effect? Have you considered pulling her off of the injectible for a couple of cycles to see if the dizziness goes away? i.e. is a side effect of the drug?