Nikki, today it took a little longer to kick in. Gave it to him at 3pm, as soon as he started getting restless and paranoid, by 6.30 after dinner he was ready for bed, this morning,he was just like his old self, calm and pleasant to be with . I'm hoping that with time he will level out.
I would be interested to hear Julia how it is going with the Seroquel now, it has been 3 weeks....you may have posted this somewhere and I missed it. Just started my guy on it today, for excessive pacing and all night twisting and jerking in bed.
He is quiet..no smashing of the bed frame against the wall, well a couple of times, but not constant.
Hoping for success with Seroquel Coco....I just know you are totally exhausted. like you have said, our guys seem to be going down hill about the same time. At least, the meds the neuro put dh on seem to be working or this down hill slide has stoped for now on its own.. Who knows for sure??
One major thing is that the down hill slide has really done a job on his memory....which was bad to begin with. Last night i fixed him some ice cream and after he finished and I put his dish up, I said to him: "Did you like that ice cream?.....his reply...."What ice cream". Ohh...well just a minor thing in the hundreds of other minor things.
Coco....I stopped it after a week, he just wanted to sleep the whole time. He was like a zoombie. Maybe i didn't give it enough time to settle and work how it should....but I couldn't bear to see him sleeping all the time, sitting in the chair, head down, looking so sad. It scared me! Though I must admit there was a couple of times when the day got too much for me, swearing, angry at me, pacing, punching the furniture, hiding stuff...too much! I rang our daughter and she said " Mum when it gets like that and you've had enough, give him a Seroquel, to quieten him down" so i did, within an hour he was asleep in the chair, and he slept for 12 hours. I felt bad doing that,but I couldn't take anymore, i don't know if that's good or not, to start and stop it like that, I would love some advice about that.. please anyone.
Good luck Coco, i hope it works out well for you..as they say each Alz patient is different...♥
hmmm thanks Julia. I gave him 25 mg last night. He slept good even though I know it is supposed to take a few days to kick in. I was surprised he was not dopey today and he seemed happier. Also his agitation seems to have lessened.
So we shall see after a week or so. I so hope it works like it does for some here, especially you Nikki and Deborah.
I am sorry it knocked your guy out Julia, whew powerful stuff. I myself am very sensitive to meds, and I bet if I took it the house could fall down around me.
Part of the different reactions from the various spouses could also be partly due to the other medications they are taking. In the beginning I would follow what the doctor's instructions are and if there is an adjustment to be made from some problem you see, then call the doctor and ask what he wants you to do.
The few days my dh was on the drug he acted like a zombie too. But, it didn't seem to stop his bad behavior when the drug seemed to be wearing off before his next dose.
Same here JudithKB...as soon as the med wore off he was back to his bad nasty angry ways, till the next tablet knocked him out. He's only on 1mg Minipresss for prostate, small asprin, and 80mg Simvastin for cholestrol...healthy heart , sugar levels good and good BP..just this Alz taking him away from us bit by bit..
The VA doc had me on a guilt trrip for giving my DH Risperdol, so I took him off it. He is angry. controllong and generally difficult to live with. I think hes going back on it.
Ky caregiver, how dare a doctor give you a guilt trip when he/she knows nothing about what what he is like at home. They can put on such a show when they are out in public. DO what you have to do & DON'T fell guilty!
Some of these VA doctors are off the wall, so to speak.
My husband has seizures at night and they have continuely gotten worse the past few years. He has had 3 EEGs to confirm these seizures. Two of the EEG's confirmed the seizures. His neuro put him on two medications at night which has lessened the seizures...NOW out of the blue when he had his physical with the VA doctor, the doctor will not provide these medications unless my dh see the VA neuro. And, it takes 3 months to get an appt. with the VA neuro...And, pray tell if the VA neuro says he won't confirm the need for these drugs does he really think I am going to have my dh not have these drugs???? No way...he could have a severe seizure.
Do you have another doctor that could/would prescribe it? VA sometimes is terrible about medications. Will never understand them. DH sees VA doctor every six months - not sure why - except I applied for Aid and Attendance and was turned down - but they did put him on the medicals (??) whatever that is. Prescription costs more through VA than our insurance. They once sent us a 90 day supply of 80 mg. asperin (I didn't order it), and billed me $28. Can get it at Walmart for about $3-4. Took me forever to get it stopped and I refused to pay them.
Guess I should have said my dh is getting the drug threw our local drug store. As long as his neuro says he needs something he will get it if need be through the drug store. We have drug insurance with our regular medical insurance so that helps.
My DH was seen by a Physician's Assistant at the VA, three or for times for brief check ups over a two year period. She told my DH that she had seen a lot of Alz. patients, and he did NOT have Alzheimer's! My husband was diagnosed, first with MCI after a battery of tests and later with Alz. by both his neurologist and internist.My concern was the VA record, but I let it slide. That was my experience with the VA and DH's ability, at that time, to pull it together and cover. Sadly, he could no longer fool anyone.
UPDATE..We are now on the third day of him taking 25 mg. of Seroquel, so far, IT SEEMS TO REALLY HELP!! I was concerned about him being zombie like, but he gets up and gets about his day without sleeping all day. AND, he seems a tad happier. Nights are way better, he only gets up maybe 3 times compared to 30 times!! Hope this keeps up!!
Coco – I'm so glad it is helping & I pray it continues. I know it was our lifesaver. I say “our” because it made him calmer & me less crazy! Hugs to you!
Super...Coco....I am so glad for you. It is great that there are several types of medications that can be used because it seems some respond to one drug and others respond to a different drug.
We went for the initial visit to VA, then they sent him for CT scans and etc. That was 2 months ago, havent heard back from them. They told me htey would start providing his meds. I have called but dont get put through, Ive left messages to no avail. My husbands primary docter gave him the Risperdone , at my request.
Seroquel was and continues to be a lifsaver for us. Risperdone made him a zombie but each patient is different. Coco, so glad things are getting better for you!