Took DH for his appointment this morning and the doctor read the list of stuff I had printed out. As I thought, DH is now in MID stage. His Sertraline (Zoloft) has been doubled so I hope it helps stop the paranoid episodes. The doctor asked DH how he was doing and of course he said fine! He ( the doctor) tried to explain it was the AD causing the things DH was imagining. I don't think DH got the message. The doctor also mentioned Seroquel if DH should get really agitated and become a danger to himself or someone else. From what he said he would only prescribe it sort of as a last resort because of the side effects.
After that we stopped for breakfast and you would never have known there was anything wrong with DH. Joking and laughing with the waitress. It's amazing how they can put an act on for the public. Almost like a star. lol.
Jean - When Seroquel was prescribed for my husband I had the prescription filled but had it hidden away and didn't use it. I was so afraid of the side effects it might cause. But, a couple of months ago, at his last neurologist visit, he showed the doctors how agitated he really was and how aggressive. They suggested Seroquel again, but I was still afraid to give it to him. But, when I mentioned my reluctance to give it him to the good people on this site, they convinced me to give it. It was like a miracle! He is so much easier to deal with now. He still has days when he gets angry and has bad moods, but, for the most part, the change is amazing. So, give a thought to Seroquel. It might just make your life a little easier, it did mine, at least so far....
Bev, Right now DH isn't getting agitated and I am hoping the 100mg of Sertraline will stop the paranoia. The one thing the neuro mentioned about the Seroquel was it's affect on the heart. My DH's sister has AD and is in ALF in Ohio. She is on Seroquel and she has a pace maker so go figure!
The neuro gave me XanaX when we went the other day. he was doing so much worse that she could see the downturn. so far, I've only given him the xanax twice. all this stuff makes him sleep, and he sleeps so much as it is, although sometimes it's better that he's sleeping. That's my respite.
I think I have the black box warning memorized. Let's see how I do... Nope couldn't quite get the exact wording.
But basically they are saying that elderly dementia patients who take Seroquel might die if they take it. First, ALL dementia patients are terminal. They are going to die whether they take Seroquel or not. Second most dementia patients who need Seroquel are in the later stages of the disease. They are all at least stage 5. Third, in many cases if they don't get something to take care of the rages, they are going to end up in a locked hospital ward, where the doctors will give them drugs that are a lot heavier than the amount of Seroquel that a family doctor is going to prescribe.
There was a time when they would not give terminal cancer patients pain killers because they might get addicted. Then common sense kicked in. Who cares if someone who will have to take a medication for the rest of their life gets addicted to it?
A lot of our doctors have had common sense kicked in already. Now all we have to do is convince the FDA.
My husband is not on this drug or any other anti-anxiety or anti-agitation drug. But I've been offered the drugs by his doctor. If I needed it, I'd ask, and he would be taking it.
I have no intention of refusing anything that would help my DH and myself. Him by keeping him on an even keel and me by not having to contend with rages and anything else AD throws this way.
I still remember the 60 Minutes bit about American Cancer victims suffering in bed while people with the exact same terminal type of disease in England were able to live life pretty comfortably and were walking around doing stuff because in England did palliative care and gave a cocktail of drugs that let them be pain free and still able to move around as long as possible. Both sets of patients were going to die about at the same time, but one set had quality of life as long as possible.
Starling, You hit the nail on the head, so to speak. I'm so glad I found the courage to do what I was afraid to do for so long. For a while there, I was so scared of what I was facing (I'm still scared), but for now things are at a level I can handle and I hope it lasts for a long time.