My husband was given a prescription for generic Aricept and he was completely out of reality. Is this a side effect of the drug?

My husband is not on oxygen, and his breathing has improved somewhat as he has lost some weight. He is very unsteady on his feet and uses a walker even in the house. Even that hasn't stopped him from falling 3 times in the last month. He is quick to tell me that he didn't get hurt because he doesn't want to go live in a care center. He lived in one for 6 months in 2009/2010 and wants to live at home. His neurosurgeon who did his 3 neck surgeries told us that if he doesn't start exercising, there will come a time when he won't be able to walk at all. The problem is getting him to physical therapy, as I have a full-time job. The only time physical therapy aides have come to our house is for a couple weeks after he was discharged from the hospital. They provide a booklet of exercises, work with him a week or two, then are gone. He just sits in his recliner all day. I have tried to get him to take a short walk after I get home from work, but the extreme heat the last few weeks have made it impossible for him to breathe outside in the heat if he exerts himself at all. You are right that exercise would give good benefits to him, but I haven't figured out the logistics of how to accomplish this.

What about a gym or the Y? Those would have hours after your work. Or a rehab place with evening hours? Water exercise can be done but almost anyone, on some level. Getting the body parts moving is a way to ensure continuing to walk a little longer.

The daycare in our area has a contract with a PT company and a pt room just for it. They will pick you up, you can spend the day or for lunch, get a hair cut, etc and have your PT right there.Daycare would keep him busy too and walking, thats so important. Good luck.

My mother has been taking Arricept 10mgs for about a year. At first I thought it helped her but now I think we are wasting her money but I am afraid to stop it as I really don't know if it is helping her or not. She has terrible Sundowers; but the dementia can appear at any time. She has lately been talking about her Mother as if she, her Mother, is here. She has done this off and on for several years . My Mother is 96; her Mother died in 1939. I never knew her and My Mother never said much about her as I was growning up. Dementia is so difficult to deal with ; I never know what to expect when my mother starts to say something. We do everything we can to avoid an argument ; that is very upsetting. I don't really think going by your old home caused your husband to react the way he did. I think it is Dementia talk though the medications could certainly be a contributing factor.Please mention these things to your husband's DR. surely he will have an answer. Please let us know what you find out. Carol

KariSue I do know that aricept and highblood pressure meds (lisinopril)cannot be taken at the same time of day. This was explained to me by the pharmacist after Dr. did not specify this danger. My Mom did very well after she took aricept in conjuction with namenda yet she started in earlier stages of cognative impairment dementia. I do know if discontinued for any length of time it can cause a reverse effect and make the dementia worsen. She also was switched to generic brand, due to Insurance coverage and seems stable. She is in a NH and was "way off", "unstable" because her room had to be changed. The new room is like a mirror image of the original room, just on east now, was on west, same view she still has window side but this confused the heck out of her. She never asked to go home or leave prior to this move. After the move she remembered her stuff being moved and thought she was going home, so anyone but me that went to visit she said, "oh your taking me home?" After a few weeks she got used to the new room. With my own experience with my Mom, is that routine is key to less stress. If your mind is clear from confusion you think better. If you sleep well you think better, if you feel well, etc.. If you change scenery you confuse an already confused mind.

My father was diagnosed with dementia this year and he is 79. He also has a brain tumor. I would like to know what type of reaction can occur by giving him aricept and lexapro. What other types of natural remedies are better than taking these drugs? He takes Lexapro to help him to reduce his anxiety but I notice that he is more sleepy. I just think that sometimes these medications can be worst than the disease.

The higher dosage of Aricept 20 mg daily almost killed my Mother (79 years old). She quit eating, got weak and hydrated and anemic, due to the higher amount of gastritis that the Aricept caused which gave her terribly stomach pain and digestive bleeding (she associated food with pain), plus she was constantly confused and dizzy, and was having severe diarrhea, pancreatitis, and continual urinary tract infections. She was hospitalized, received an endoscopy, colonscopy and capsule endoscopy which didn't show any other problems with her digestive system, other than an inflamed stomach and bleeding from the ileum. Her blood pressure was hyper and her hemoglobin count was low. She became so weak that she also contracted pnemonia from the hospital stay and had to be rehospitalized and then was transferred to a rehab facility for agressive therapy. Even though her neurologist knew she'd been bleeding from her stools for several years, was taking Anti-inflammatory medications, and had a coronary obstructive history of triple bi-pass and stoke, she still increased her dosage of the Aricept from 10 mg daily to 20 mg daily, even though she hadn't graduated to the severe form of Alzheimers yet. From all the doctors that examed my Mother during this critical life-threatening time, none of them attributed her problems to the Aricept. It was after I had read about the side-effects and took her off of the medication myself, that she began to get better. No more gastritis, no more confusion and dizzyness, no more hallucinations, and her appetitie is back. She will never get back to where she was before she'd began the Aricept, because her digestive system is "hashed" and the only food that she can eat now, so as not to start up the bleeding is very very bland food. A leading consumer advocacy group says that the highest dose of Alzheimer's treatment Aricept is dangerous and ineffective and should be removed from the market. Data shows that the 23 mg dose of donepezil is significantly more toxic than the 10 mg dose. The public citizen petition asks the FDA to warn doctors and patients against taking 20 mg of the drug a day. Be aware that cholinesterase inhibitors (Aricept) causes bladder outflow obstruction, pulmonary disease and increases gastric acid secretion. Patients do not get monitored closely for these symptoms. Also, Aricept should never be given to those receiving non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS).

I agree completely with post who said you MUST check medication yourself. Find out what it is for, I am a nurse and just looked my mother's medications up. Why did I wait so long????
She is on 4 blood pressure medicines and something to keep from having clots in legs which says "DO NOT take if you, have CHF she has sever chf.
One of the medications for blood pressure says causes fluid and salt retention. She just got out of hospital because she could not breathe due to fluid!

Husband had same tpe of reaction to Aricept. After 2 weeks of steadily getting worse and my arguing with Dr. who had prescribed Aricept - Dr. said "well take him off of it and see what happens.
Next day husband looking out of window - asked where we were - I told him at home. He looked around - realized where he was and said
"Where did I go. I don't want to EVER go there again.
Asked his internist - he said if reaction is to drug usually happens within 1 - 2 days of starting drug
Told him it did (it happened next day after starting)and we had been dealing with specialist who had prescribed it for 2 weeks
Husband's chart marked to "allergy to Aricept"
Read their packaging carefully - _"It will take up to 3 months to see difference - at that time either will be no change - or decline will be slowed - or condition will be worse"
After 1 year condition will revert to where patient would have been if never took medicine.
I know some people may be helped by this drug - my husband has PTSD and CHF - not AD.
Sounds like your husband has plenty already - would get 2nd opinion on adding this drug.
For use it was 'hell on earth" for 2 weeks. It is something I would never take myself - would never give him again - and would advise anyone taking to be on lookout for adverse effects - even if Dr. says"it can't cause that reaction"
it can and does.

This has been very helpful as I'm primary caregiver recently for my father. I changed doctors when I moved him with me and pharmacy that I used didn't have arciecpt and so Dad was off it two days, he seem more alert without the drug and not up all nite. Nor was he fidgity. I may not give this to him at 10 mg every morning. Very interesting info here. Thank you

tamtam, I too took my mom off of it and she was better off of it!! I wouldnt use it if I were you. When my Mom was in the agressive wandering stage she had depakote, she is now on nothing except her regular pills. 10mg of aricept can cause blackouts, they normally start with 5mg ! Seriously, just let him be him, unless he is taking off on you or hitting and aggitated, then call ask ask about depakote sprinkles. Best thing for your Dad is you being there for him and sing!!! I even sung my words sometimes so Mom would understand more. Ive had mom almost 7 years with me in my home too, been there. good luck !

My husband died of Progressive Supra Nuclear Palsy. He had been on Aricept. Could that have triggered his final illness?

Side effects can be terrible. I got permission to play with my husbands doses of Aracept (generic). Cutting pills and dividing doses. We finally got thru the side effects and his body did adjust. I feel the trouble was worth it in the end. Exelon patch made my husband angry and hostile, that was not worth even trying.

Jessie, Aricept does not kill. The disease is what killed him.
katnmouse: funny how one medication works well for one person and not for another. I guess that is why medicine is called "a practice".
In Kari Sue's case too many drugs are worse than no drugs at all. AND NEVER drive by the old house, that really sends them over the hedge.

My mom has had dementia for a year and was taking namenda, which i took her off the drug due to bad reaction, attitude changes, becoming mean... Not harmful to anyone, she recently went back to new dr.. Which then turned around and gave her donepezil ( aricept) and has been on it about a week. Having worse reaction to this med . Ive noticed the changes getting worse the longer she is on it. I will be taking her off it as well. I can handle the memory lose...which saddens me but come to accept it, but i cannot handle mood swings n anger and being unhappy, which both meds had caused. I was told that tumeric was an excellent antioxidant for cell damage, which was recommended to me to try her on. Im sure it wont be any worse then Namenda or Aricept.

Yes my mom was on I think 5mg and ok but at a nutty stage at that time anyway. When they upped her dosage she was crazy so I thought if she is this bad on this, what was she on her regular dose? I took her off, did her no good at all, and aggitated her.

What happens if dementia medicines are discontinued suddenly

shaku05, any medication that has been given for a long time should not be suddenly discontinued. The dose has to be tapered off. Now if your patient has taken only a low dose for a short time, reaction should be minimal. Be sure you read the patient information sheet that comes with the Rx.