I am new to this board and I am very happy to have found a place where others are dealing with a LO with FTD and the aggressive behaviors which can go with the disease. My DH is currently in a psych hospital to try to control his aggression when he sundowns, usually from 7-9 pm. I've learned that "controlling behaviors" means medicating him so he is drowsy,sedated, etc. He is still relatively young - 58 and is in fine physical health. He does not want to be on a "dementia" unit and I know that is fueling his bad behavior. Right now he is on Depakote 125 mg 3x a day, Lexapro 5 mg, 1x a day, Klonopin 5 mg/PRN for agitation, Seroquel 25 mg 1X a day in evening and Lunestra 3mg at bedtime. Since he became physically aggressive last night towards an aide, they have no increased his seroquel to 50 mg in the evening to control his behavior. As they add/increase meds, he becomes more sedated and confused. I hate to see him this way, but do not know what else to do. He had a very bad reaction to Risperdal, so he cannot be put on it. Can anyone share with me what medications/techniques have worked with your LO? I need to have him calm down so they will release him.
LFL, welcome! We're glad you have come aboard, but sorry that your husband has FTD. There are several threads on FTD and medications. Go to the top of this page and click on search and enter FTD and the discussions should show up. If not, someone can bring it to the top for you. Getting the right medication for the different stages and different diseases is difficult. I'm so sorry that he's reached the point of hospitalization. Hopefully they can get his meds adjusted. Sundowning is rough - and it's full moon time right now, which makes it worse.
I'll let those whose spouses have FTD give you more detailed information. Here's a hug for you! (((HUG)))
LFL seroquel in very large doses 125mg twice daily is the only thing that let my husband be managable. Tried many other drugs with very poor result. FTD is a bear-no two alike. My husband is very calm now but gets very agitated if we try to reduce the dosage. He is end stage now and as long as he is eating and calm that is all that I ask for.
Thanks Mary and Bluedaze. Bluedaze, does your husband appear sedated on the dose of seroquel? Can he still function, walk, etc? How long was his decline to end stage? Sounds like he's still home. I want my DH to come home and be with me so I can care for him, but he has been very aggressive towards me in the past. I think he may have only 1-2 years left.....:(
LFL my husband is in a dementia facility on Hospice care. He can feed himself (too well) and ambulate-but that is all. I sat directly facing him while he was eating lunch today and could not get him to look at me. He is far away in a different world. I would not consider bringing my LO home for many reasons. He gets much more stimulation where he is than I could or would provide at home. Selfishly-I was so traumatized for so many years by terrible behavior that I will never heal. I feel so sorry for what my husband has become-but nothing I can do will change it. I sadly accept that I am alone now after almost 50 years of marriage. I value my new found freedom. Don't get me wrong=I really want my old life back-but it is not to be.
My husband has behavior issues more than memory even though he is mild AD. It was a living hell for a couple of years until they put him on Namenda and Lexapro. He was on the generic Lexapro, but it did not work as well as the name brand. I hope this helps. I know what you mean about being traumatized about the things they can say and do.Even though I know it was his illness and that he wasn't himself and I really don't hold a grudge, but the wounds will always be there for me. I am glad that you have found this group. It will help you stay sane and supported. God bless.
I feel your pain. My husband was diagnosed with FTD a little over a year ago. In the 5 years prior to that he gradually lost his ability to speak, so communication is almost impossible for him. 6 months ago he was placed in the psych unit for aggression toward the neurologist (he slapped her on the arm because he wanted to leave the room and she wouldn't let him). He was completely traumatized by it. When I returned the next day after he was admitted he was pacing the floor and crying. His son met me at the door to the unit and flatly said "you get him out of here or I will". I tried to bring him that night but had to wait till morning. I drove directly from the hospital to our family doctor's office. He started him on Serequel (which has been a God send) but convinced me to go back to the neurologist for medication purposes. My husband now takes 50 mg Serequel morning and evening and Namenda 10 mg morning and evening and Ambien at bed time. He has been fairly calm but agitation is beginning to increase and I imagine the doctor will increase the Serequel when we go back. In my opinion the hospital was the WRONG place for my husband but every case if different. Your husband's safety and that of those around him is most important. My goal is to keep my husband at home with me as long as possible, I just don't know how long possible is. Check in here often, there is always someone ready to listen.
I have such mixed feelings about these boards. On the one hand, it is helpful to have a place to go when you're feeling down and don't know where to turn. On the other hand, reading all these stories kind of depresses me as well. My husband was given the diagnosis of FTD yesterday and it's scaring me to death. Lewy body dementia with parkinson overlap was the diagnosis we received a year ago. But, in just the last few weeks he has become aggressive, stays up almost all night, and is doing such crazing things, such as washing things we don't usually wash, such as keys, etc. He is so close to anger that it's difficult for me to even know what to say to him without making him angry. The neurologist told me to act as though he is a toddler. She said, "You wouldn't get angry at a toddler, would you (and I don't)? Just let things go over your head and realize he doesn't mean what he is doing and saying." But, this is so difficult for me to do. I'm trying. I'm really trying.... The doctor told me I was a saint.
Welcome to the site. My husband was diagnosed last year with FTD. He is on Cymbalta and seroquel to manage his behaviors. Is your husband on anything for his aggressiveness? Sometimes it takes time to find the right combination of meds to help out. For instance, my husband was first placed on risperadal but that actually made it worse then put on seroquel which has helped alot. We know that there is no treatment for FTD just trying to handle the behaviors as they come along.
It's hard not to get angry with them even though you know they can't help it. You are human and have feelings. It's hard to not take it personally. It's easy for the doctors to tell you how to handle it but they are not there 24/7. All you can do is go day by day or even hour by hour.
Welcome to my website. I have put your post in the "Welcome New Members" section at the top of the page.
You have come to a place of comfort for spouses who are trying to cope with the Alzheimer's/dementia of their husband/wife. The issues we face in dealing with a spouse with this disease are so different from the issues faced by children and grandchildren caregivers. We discuss all of those issues here - loss of intimacy; social contact; conversation; anger; resentment; stress; and pain of living with the stranger that Alzheimer's Disease has put in place of our beloved spouse.
The message boards are only part of this website. Please be sure to log onto the home page - www.thealzheimerspouse.com - and read all of the resources on the left side. I recommend starting with "Newly Diagnosed/New Member" and "Understanding the Dementia Experience". There are 4 sections for EOAD members - two of which focus on the young teens whose parents have EOAD (early onset AD). There is a great new section on informative videos, and another excellent resource - Early Onset Dementia - A Practical Guide.
Do not miss the "previous blog" section. It is there you will find a huge array of topics with which you can relate. Log onto the home page daily for new blogs; news updates; important information.
There are many members here whose spouses have FTD and its variants. Go to the top of this page, click "search", and put in "FTD", making sure the "topic" circle is filled in. You will find at least a dozen FTD topics. I do know from friends' experience that FTD rages and anger can be horrifying, so it is essential to get him on the correct anti-rage drug. If Seroquel doesn't work, the doctor can prescribe other medications until you find the right one. I do know of someone who has FTD and calmed down after the Exelon patch was removed. Remember - every dementia patient is different, so what bothers one, or works for one, will not necessarily work for another.
We have another new member - babozek - who just posted with concerns very similar to yours.
Meemabev, try to look at the info you get here as an education. Not all FTD patients will develop all the symptoms you will read about. Dementia is a very individualized disease. My husband has the Motor Neuron Varient. He can speak well but is in a wheel chair. This is all very overwhelming. Jim was dx'd last Feb, but has probably had the disease for 8-10 yrrs. He is 62, I am 53. You are in a good place. Visit us often, take what you need, knowing that we are always here for you. We do our best to help research, search for answers, and support each other. You are overwhelmed right now, not suprising. Hang in there educated yourself as you are ready. We are here to cry with you, hold your hand, toss you a rope to hang onto, find the humor in life, get silly, vent, scream and so much more. I cannot imagine going through this process without this incredible family. Arms around, Susan