Nancy, "atypical antipsychotics" like Risperdal and Seroquel also have the effect of decreasing anxiety. I'm convinced that's why they work on our AD/FTD LO's.
I have praised Seroquel to the heavens and will continue to do so. But, lately, it has started not being enough. My DW started crying almost all day and the evening jitters, etc. came back with a passion. This, after we had experienced much improvement in the last few months. The nurse suggested Atavan and she is now taking 1m morning and night in addition to the seroquel. The crying is much better, but, the evening agitation is still there so I am wondering if the meds need to be adjusted, strength, frequency, etc.
We see the neuro on 11/10 so I hope to get enough info to see some inprovement after that.
My husband took Seroquel for about 3 months over a year ago. It helped tremendously with the reasons he needed it, but he had side effects that outweighed the good it did, so we discontinued. Someday the scales may tip and it will outweigh the side effects.
My husband has been on Seroquel for about a year with good results. All of his doctors have been against any anti-anxiety meds for him. At my instance they did try Atavan once but it was ineffective with him.
Update from last night. We had one Ativan around 4..then bedtime at 8:30..(w/100 mg. of Seroquel) up at 11, 1 and shaving and dressing at 3. Back in bed and he was up at 7:00. So much for that extra hour of sleep. He has had NO medication today..(a test on my part...ordinarily 100 mg. of Seroquel at 10).. because he says he is sick and feeling really bad. I don't know what to do, honestly. He's barely able to walk OR Talk.. and I wonder if it's the drugs, the disease or what. He's really bad off today.
I wish someone was here with me to help decide what to do.
Nancy B - I wish I could offer you some advice. I have been where you are many times during our journey. I too tried no meds, new meds and it just seemed that some days were worse than others with no rhyme or reason. Just when I would think that I had found a medication or technique that worked well, we would go down hill again. And it continues even in the nursing home. Good days, bad days. Hope things improve for you as the day passes.
Thank you. So far..he's white as paste, finally ate some pancakes. I'm trying to get him to drink fluids. He just got over a UTI,and I know he doesn't drink more than 10 ounces of fluid a day..if THAT! He will pour out his water when I'm not looking, into the dog bowl or sink. I know this sounds crazy, but it's almost as if he is deliberately refusing to drink liquid. He is a constant challenge and I'm worn out. I still have on my sleeping pants and tshirt. I should take a long shower and dress in something nice, just for ME. But I'm too exhausted to expend the effort. The shower will happen, and then it's back into jeans and sweater. My uniform.
I keep my hair washed and clean, because I think he may have to go to the hospital anytime, and then I won't have time to do it. Isn't that crazy. (I also keep a small makeup bag stocked with necessities for the same reason)
Nancy, I'm sure you are worn out. I do the same thing - dress for the day in case we have a "what if"; makeup bag and all! Guess that's sad, but it's reality. Never know when we might have to go to the hospital.
Feel better after your shower - and jeans and a sweater are OKAY.
I can't believe that seroquel works so well for all of you. Gord takes 50mg morning, afternoon and bedtime. During the day, I can use 25mg at my discretion 3 times a day. Usually, I just use 2. If it is working, I would hate to see him without. He becomes agitated usually around 1. It can start as early as 10. It can last till 7PM when the 5 or 6PM 25mg of seroquel and 1mg of ativan seem usually to finally stop the agitation. I know he is becoming or is agitated by his noises. He puffs as if in labour, he does noises as if he is freezing, he moans, groans and sighs, he makes Darth Vader noises. These noises put me in danger of losing what little is left of my mind. He also becomes aggressive.
Jang, I can see where the constant noises would be very annoying. I imagine it must bother him too, poor bugger. Have you spoken to his doctor about it?
After about 4 years on Seroquel, it seemed to be losing it's effectiveness on my husband. He was switched to another anti-psychotic, Zyprexa, earlier this year. Jang--I think those are low doses that your husband is taking--you should ask his doctor if the dosage can be increased (or the timing of the doses) if you are seeing aggression.
He has only been on it since February but I have never seen it work the way others describe. We see the doctor in 2 weeks and I will mention it then. I have not told him about the level of aggression.
My DH started with 25mg of Seroquel. Then it went to 50 and is now 75. He takes it in the evening along with Namenda. Mornings he takes Namenda, Aricept and Sertraline as well as a couple of other pills not related to AD. He isn't aggressive but he can hallucinate and be paranoid about people he really doesn't know or even some he knows slightly. I know the Seroquel helps with the paranoia which is one of the things I cannot stand! His neuro really didn't want to up the dose to 75 but he isn't with him 24/7 and doesn't have to listen to the tales about people not liking him and being nasty to him. From the information sheet that comes with the pills there is a "slight risk" of a heart attack but that seems to be with people who have heart problems and DH doesn't. Apart from AD he doesn't have any physical problems and he is 82 years old! If the Seroquel should stop working I will check for some other med to handle the paranoia.
I started this thread and have to report that in the 2 years since, DH has become more aggitated and restless after several moths on a particular dose of Seroquel. In Dec 2008 he came out of the hospital on 225mg of seroquel whiich seemed to work fine until late 2009 at which point he was put on 300 mg of Seroquel. Last year he started becoming more restless/aggitated in late afternoon thru evening, so dr raised seroquel to 350 but recommended to go to 400mg. Well, 3 weeks ago DH decided to take a midnight stroll (thank god we found him in the neighborhood) and made threatening remarks to live-in aide. Now he is on 450 mg of Seroquel. Dr. stated that he thought the behavior changes were due to 2 things - progression of DH's disease and that he has become used to the 350 mgs of seroquel. So now he's on what I consider a high dose (although dr says they can dose up to 800 mgs/day) but it seems to have begun to controll his aggitation and restlessness.
My husband can be paranoid as well. We often have to whisper as apparently there are people in the apartment. He too was a wanderer until I got a lock that locks from the inside as well as the outside. You would be surprised though at the feeling it gives you when you are locked in as well. At least it is better than chasing him and having to call 911. They called out the canine unit when he took off in November.