Sherizeee.blogspot.com referenced this video which starts with an overview of Alzheimers and goes on to discuss how a geriatric hospitalization for agitation might use specific medications to calm a patient. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMLGoIhsiBU&list=UU4_KiEqQoV8jpaLy4X2lhdA&index=1 If the link doesn't work, search Ridgeview Medical Geriatric Mental Health and look for the information video for families.
Hi Carol, Thanks for telling us about this video. I just watched it and thought it was really good. The first 10 minutes, which just explains dementia and Alzheimer's in a general way, would be good to show to anyone who wants a general introduction to the disease. The last 20 minutes is about agitation and the drugs used to treat it. If Joan were still posting items on the main page of the Alz Spouse website, this video would be an excellent one to post.
BTW, the link didn't work but after poking around on the Ridgeview Geriatric Mental Health page, I found it.
zoloft is an antidepressant but can also be prescribed for OCD. Namenda, aricept, galantamine, exelon can all be prescribed anytime but usually early on then kept on them throughout the disease. You never know if they help until you take them off cause they only help them to stay cognitively functioning longer and only in about 30% of the people.
My wife on on Latuda from 2008 until the end of last year. When she was taken off of it her quality of life improved. She had many side effects which mimicked FTD symptoms. She still has a FTD dx and I believe it helped her pre-dx.
Was also on Trazadone for the same period to help with sleep (she was going days at a time without sleeping). Was taken off of it when she was sleeping too much. She no longer has sleep problems.