We all know about Aricept, Namendia etc. But I hear many of you discussing Drugs that I don't know anything about. For for all us Newbie's to the sight could you please give us all some sort of list of drugs, there uses and if you find that they work or not. I think this information would be incredible valuable to all of us in our journey, Information always helps :) And if it's address in an earlier discussion maybe a hint of where it is ......thanks
Terry54, many of us found that Seroquel helped with the agitation. My DH was later switched to Risperidol when the aggression and bad temper got worse. He's been in an ALF since last Oct. and in Jan. the dr. added Merinol, which has made him very mellow. It's a synthetic form of marijuana, used to keep their apetites up.
for the AD itself there are a few meds that most of us have tried some used some didnt . exelon patch, aricept, namenda, reminyl, and some have the generic form which we use as well. for the aggression, paranoias, some we here have used are risperdal, trazadone, seroquel, zyprexa, haldol, and many more. some work for us some dont, but its a worthwhile risk to try one and then another if the drs will prescribe it. i cant imagine hardly any of us would be able to cope at home for long without something to control the behaviours. others will be along with more input. divvi
Also, Terry54, you may find that some folks here have drugs for health issues related to AZ but may be from other causes. The drugs used directly for Alzheimers are relatively few but the drugs for treatment of behaviors and symptoms are many many.
The few mentioned for dementia may or may not work in delaying things, but probably are worth trying and if they cause too many side effects probably can be dropped without much change.
The ones mentioned for behavior, as divvi noted, are used for different people by different doctors. Seroquel didn't work for my husband but trazadone (for sleep) and Ativan (quick-acting against aggression) certainly did. Sometimes you can ask a doctor for something you've heard of here and he'll say 'worth a try." The knowledge of the doctors about dealing with dementia patients, particularly dementia patients AT HOME, where you tailor the drug to the patient carefully, varies a lot. Some PCPs won't touch anti-psychotics, some neurologists only diagnose and then refer you to a PCP for behavioral meds. I can't imagine getting through all this without some kind of behavioral meds, even if only sleeping ones.
AND I can't imagine getting through this YOURSELF without some kind of anti-depressant or whatever.
The psych drugs listed above are all used to combat depression or to curb undesirable behaviors (usually aggression). They can also be used to control symptoms like paranoia, hallucinations, etc. These can be used in combination with each other, depending on the symptoms the patient displays. There is no standard set of medications that are used, but a good doctor will devise a "cocktail" that is tailored to the individual's case and will change them, as needed.
Having the patient on the right meds is critical to their quality of life, as well as the caregiver's. A good doctor starts with the safest drug (least side effects) at a low dosage, gradually increasing it until the right level is found. If the safest drug doesn't work, then they go to the next safest, etc.
Another tip I've set up because we've been dealing with Mental Illness and then added VaD over the years since March 1988, I divided his Med list into 3 parts. I keep it on the computer and update it whenever needed. Quick printouts at my fingertips.
First Section-----Meds he cannot take --with a note why
Second Section--Meds he's on now--with dosage and frequency noted
Third Section----Meds he no longer takes. With notes of why. These include meds tried that didn't work.
My husband was prescribed low dose Galantamine - may be a generic - by our PCP. The neurologist he saw for diagnosis last week increased the dosage X2 for four weeks and then increase X2 after that. I haven't seen that drug mentioned here. His diagnosis was Vascular Dementia. He takes several drugs for heart, BP, diabetes, etc.
flo galantamine is the generic for razadyne/ reminyl that many of us have used. you can google either and may see the names. the galantamine is less costly as well.
My husband is on 16mg galantamine. He has been on it since 10/08. Doctor has never talked about upping it and I don't think I would. If he has the diarrhea and acid reflux now, it may be worse with a higher dose.
Thank you, thank you, thank you .....ALL. I have started a note book with these drugs listed. All of the advice and suggestions I have taken to heart. Thanks so much for sharing......as the road begins to curve want to be looking around the corner carefully. Thanks :)
I have another drug question for the group. I recently tried one low dose of Seroquel for agitated behaviors and saw an angry/almost violent response from my husband. Should I try this medication again to see if that behavior repeats? When I saw that scary angry "devil" face described in other threads, I didn't like it and am afraid to try it again. I also tried one dose of Ativan and it made him lose balance and fall down. Is one dose of a medication enough of a trial or should I keep trying? Am I giving up too easily?
My DH, in late stage AD, takes geodon for his antipsychotic. The doctor switched from seroquel to geodon during a hospitalization. They use geodon in the hospital because it comes in an injectable form as well as a pill. It works for us. He would see bad guys and get extremely agitated. I can't imagine dealing with this disease without an antipsychotic.