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My mom is 81 and has had dementia for 4-5 years. She lives with me and began having hallucinations really bad to the point it would keep her up all night. We got her on Seroquel and this did take away the hallucinations and she was sleeping through the night. There was a mix up with her prescription and she was off the Seroquel for about 2 weeks. When I finally received it, I started her back on it. When she was off of it she was brighter, happier and for the first week and a half she was still sleeping through the night. The first night I put her back on it she was dead to the world when sleeping. it made a big difference in her. So I haven't given her anymore as of now. Does anyone have experience with giving Benadryl at night instead and would this help her to sleep thus keeping the hallucinations away? I just don't want her to be on any more medicine than she has to.

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NO, DO NOT GIVE Benadryl or any other antihistamine to a person with dementia. It blocks acetylcholine which is necessary for neurotransmitters to connect information in the brain. Try melatonin instead which is harmless at about 1.5 mg to 3 mg. over-the-counter. Benadryl is mentioned in Dr. Oz's book as causing dementia-like symptoms, and unless one is having an allergic reaction and need something fast to stop hives and itching, stay away from this drug. Anything with diphenhydramine (the key ingredient in Benadryl) is going to cause you to be forgetful. So many people are taking this drug for allergies, and so many people are showing ill effects. I stopped taking it a long time ago.
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Pattiflo, the problem may be the dosage of Seroquel your mother is taking. My mom has been on it, at various dosage levels for two years, and she does well, relatively speaking. I would consult with her doctor before administering any OTC medications.
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They took Mom off Aricept and Namenda. Namenda is very expensive. These drugs only slow down the process, from what I was told. They cannot heal. The cycle of life happens. You get older and something is going to give. Unfortunately, it's Mom's brain...People age differently. My family history is they die; cancer, brain disorder,stroke, hear attacks. You name it, someone in my family died somehow. As Ronald Regan's family said, ALZ is the slow goodbye. Now, I feel there is a reason Mom has it. I don't know if I could have let her go any sooner without a total breakdown. I don't know if I can let her go now without a total breakdown. She is not the same person, but gosh, when she does recognize me, I feel like her little princess again. At my age that's wonderful..She is a wonderful kind person.
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I have heard that Benedryl can make hallucinations worse so I would avoid that. I guess I would find out from the doctor if the current dose of Seroquel could be lowered ...that is all that it may take to balance things out.
I like the idea of soft music and found that gardening magazines and all the lovely pictures relax my Mom too.
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I should clarify that a lot of people come here who have monkeyed around with their loved one's meds without the doctor, and it can be super dangerous to the patient. It is appalling to me how many people will play doctor without really understanding.

There are a lot of other sleep related posts here, but the standard guidance seems to be to have a regular routine and sequence of events up to bedtime, and to expect that just when you get it figured out, something will change and you'll have to troubleshoot all over again.
Insomnia is a hallmark behavior for dementia.

Don't be afraid to get help in at night so YOU can rest. You will decline faster than mom if you are not getting real rest. Nobody can do 24/7 shifts.
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Why not try something natural? Ask your mother's doctor about Melatonin and herbal teas, and whether or not they're contraindicated with anything else she takes.
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Just a thought that randomly occurred to me as I was reading this post. I've had unsettling nightmares just from taking an 81 mg of aspirin, of a specific brand. Was I hallucinating or having a bad dream? I don't know, but the nightmares were very vivid....and just from a simple aspirin.

Perhaps it's time to research all the meds your mother takes, and check for interactions.

Benadryl gave me double vision.
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Give her Melatonin 10 mg's, Extra Strength, over the counter. She'll sleep like a baby, no hallucinations. Forget the medication! Bleh!
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The geritrician and neurologist both said to NOT GIVE Benadryl to my mom. i was the one who initially suggested Benadryl because I needed sleep and was exhausted. Lowering the seroquel dose or giving it earlier may be some options. Good luck
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Seroquel turned my husband into a drunken zombie who fell asleep within 20 minutes of taking it! Wonderful! I learned to give it to him after he was ready for bed and in his bedroom. Many people can take it during the day -- not my husband! But it served our purpose beautifully. Without it we were both miserable half-awake zombies all day. The "drunk" effect wore off in a few hours but by then he was sound asleep. This was our "miracle" pill that allowed me to keep him at home.

BUT it is not a miracle for everyone. Let your own experience guide you. Discuss Mom's reaction with her doctor. Maybe the dosage could be adjusted.

Almost all medications being used for dementia patients are trade-offs. It makes him less alert but it calms his anger. She is more apt to fall but she is more "with it." It is almost always a matter of balancing the benefits and the drawbacks.
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