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Message Boards Forum Index Medications/Treatments for Alzheimer's and Other Related Dementias namenda and aricept|
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Anne, I don't know what kind of answers you got from the question about the cost of the medications. My husband is taking Aricept and will be eligible for Medicare in August of this year. At this time, I pay out $88.86 per week for us both and his Rx is a $50 co-pay on the Aricept. With "Secure Horizons" coverage (no monthly cost on top of the $88.50 for Medicare A & B) his co-pay for the Aricept is only $26 per month. Prayers to all! Judy Still lucky! |
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One more thing, I read in some earlier posts about a "MM" test. Can someone tell me what this is and does? Thanks, Judy Still lucky! |
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maidm,
In reply to your question, Trazadone helped my father when he was sundowning real badly four months ago. He takes it just before bed (730 pm) and it keeps him from getting up and down all night long moving the contents of his drawers, desk and closet. Good luck to you, I've found that my biggest support from from this website and the wonderful people who are here to answer my questions. ((Hugs)) Rain |
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I'm reading here about Namenda and Aricept/Reminly, etc. Has anyone had experience with restarting Namenda/Reminly after running out of the Namenda for a couple of weeks due to pharm's refusal to refill? We're experienceing some interesting flucutations and wondering if it will work itself out or if we lost a bit of ground in those few weeks.
thanks. |
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Hello Mommy & Me - Wish I could say if On-Off-On Namenda has consequences. Wish I could be more responsive to your specific question. Instead, I will playback our similar experience. We were notified by the Skilled Nursing Facility on a Thursday evening while visiting that Namenda would last the weekend. Explanation: Pharmacy (Silverscript) refused to renew based in part on responses to a mini mental state exam (MMSE) requiring verbal responses (Mom has been aphasic for 3 years). What facts surrounded your pharmacy's non-renewal of Namenda? For example, to what extent do you believe the SNF staff had a role in that determination? If they had a role, would you weight their role as only light or very significant? Same question re: the role of your attending clinician? My remedy was to check formularies of other pharmacy services and to apply for a new one within the bounds of Medicare D. Meanwhile, the Dr's office provided a Namenda starter kit to get her titrated back to the scripted dose. That weekend, the Namenda was abruptly stopped at the last dose, despite my protest and request to split the doses and taper it down a little bit the last days. Nurses seem to be trained to slowly titrate CNS drugs up to the intended daily dose or down to zero dose if the drug is being ceased. It is difficult to say if arrested Namenda caused her new, "flat" disengaged demeanor, because during that gap period with only the Exelon (no adjunct Namenda) there were rare smiles. Now out of the gap and on the rising serum concentration with that starter kit, improvement isn't detectable. But, as this is a progressive disorder, all I can hope for is to perceive a plateau for a little while at the newest state, even if that state is not as high as we left off before the pharmacy machinery's swift and silent "attack".
Learning Son Dave in Michigan |
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I am new to the Group but look forward to getting some helpful info and how others are coping with each different sitution. My husband was diagnosed 2 yrs ago. He is on Aricept, Namenda and Seroquel. He takes all in evening except for the other pill of Namenda in AM. He has the sundowner also. But if I gave him his meds too early he gets sleepy and wants to go to bed, but will not go without me. If I go to bed with him and try to get up after he is asleep he knows when I move. If he took the Trazadone would he sleep more soundly? I am getting fustrated at not having anytime to accomplish anything. For instance, He is out of bed now and sitting on couch in my office. For awhile and then he starts to wonder. I have heard of some patients taking seroquel in AM. Has anyone had experience with that? Wouldn't he be just as restless? Wouldn't it have same effect as evening? I just want him to go to bed and sleep all night. Is that even a possiblity with AD? Also, We signed him up on Medicare D with Humana. Our monthly premium is 58.00 and co-pay on each drug is 30.00. So what we have to spend each month is $148.00 for all three drugs. Which I feel we are lucky it isn't more. Thank you for letting me chat. I am so happy to have found a place to go to read about other people who have some sitution and how they cope.
Sherry wife straiteyes1@yahoo.com charleston arkansas |
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Just to add to our body of knowledge, my mother was on Aricept & Namenda, then went off because she had bad headaches and stomach problems. These stopped. Then she went to a new ALF and the doctor there is very big on Namenda. I thought, OK, let's try again since he believes in it so much. He also gave her Zyprexia to help calm her while she got adjusted to the new home (and he kept her on it). So I'm not sure which one did what, but she doesn't have the head aches or stomach problems, and she is very calm now (but not sluggish or sleepy) and also better able to cope with the tasks of daily living.
I'm really confused, because I didn't see any decline when she went off Aricept & Namenda (they didn't seem to be doing anything for her) but now I do see an improvement. Maybe it's just the normal ups and downs of the disease? Or maybe one or both of these drugs? Maybe the Aricept was the culprit before? ??? |
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My mother has been on both meds for around 3 years..after suffering from 3 significate deaths in a 4 years span. Her husband, her mother, and then her best friend of 35 years. She was only given 1 1/2 years, but it has stretched to over 3..but now she is really bad. She can't remember when she took her meds, and has taken a whole weeks worth in one day..does anyone know if they can overdose or harm themselves by taking too much? She is in her last stages, according to her doctor, she doesn't even remember my name, but is still physically active. She lives by herself, but only 3 houses down. and is with me most of the time. We were told to look for a nursing home for her very soon. I would like to talk to anyone who is going through this also. I am so frustrated, I have high blood pressure, and she is really getting to me. I am now almost a full time caregiver, (except for nightime) We never got along when I was younger, and my brothers (who she did everything in the world for) won't help at all..even though they live within a couple of houses from us.
She comes to my house at 6 a.m. (hours before my new husband has to get up for work, and leaves only after she knows that she has awaken us) then walks over here 7 or 8 times a day, even on days when she is suppose to be with one of my brothers, otherwise she is with me from morning till night. She lies to them saying that I am taking her places, and then lies to me, saying they are leaving for work, which I know better, since they are musicians, and only work nights..(like I said, they live very close) I don't know how to handle her, or the telling her that she needs to go into a nursing home, with professional care. She doesn't change her clothes, doesn't bathe, or anything personnel anymore. She gets mad when I tell her she needs to change...Is anyone else going through this sort of thing? I don't let her cook for herself, I give her dinner every night, but she worries me, being alone, and I don't have the room for her. Please help...I am at wits end Nancy |
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Hi Anne, This is my first time here but I had to reply to your post. My Mom has that new HighmarkRX (I'm pretty sure it's from Blue Cross) & also P.A.C.E. They take care of her Namenda & Aricept. Deb Deb Hockenberry dhock1119@netzero.com 'When God closes a door, He always opens a window.' |
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Hi Judy from Texas of 07 June posting:
Hi NancyB of 05 October (please see comment at bottom.) Judy, Yes, I also have heard of that "MM" test or MMSE. Looked it up. They use it to put a number on the degree of cognitive loss, good for that day, the hour they run the test. It is a copyrighted test, but described on the Internet. Definition below I lifted from a clinical website and Wikipedia. You and I would score a 28 or 29, and it goes down from there. "The mini-mental state examination (MMSE) or Folstein test is a brief 30-point questionnaire test that is used to assess cognition. It is commonly used in medicine to screen for dementia. In the time span of about 10 minutes, it samples various functions, including arithmetic, memory and orientation. It was introduced by Folstein et al in 1975, and is widely used with small modifications. While the MMSE has limited specificity with respect to individual clinical syndromes, it represents a brief, standardized method by which to grade cognitive mental status. It assesses orientation, attention, immediate and short-term recall, language, and the ability to follow simple verbal and written commands. Furthermore, it provides a total score that places the individual on a scale of cognitive function." Do you agree that NancyB of 05 October "wits' end" should be calling her county health office or her nearest Area Agency on Aging to make sure she understands any and all resources available to her to coordinate bringing caregiving into her mother's house or to coordinate first steps in taking the other path....skilled facility? If you do not agree, then do you advise that she directly call the toll free 1.800.272.3900 line at Alzheinmer's Association national office in Chicago to get contact info on her nearest AA people? Dave in MI Learning Son Dave in Michigan |
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Dave, I do agree! I've also found that since my husband has gotten sick, I've had to fight for everything concerning his healthcare. I never thought I could do this. If one person won't answer my questions, I go to their boss, then to that persons boss and so on. Did any of us in our wildest dreams, think that we or our loved ones would have to fight so hard for our rights?
Prayers! Judy Still lucky! |
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Hi everyone, I have not seen a message since Oct. 2006. My Mother has been on Aricept several years. In Oct. her doctor prescribed Namenda because she scored 23 on the test instead of 25. However, she had been erroneously taken off the entire dosage of Aricept one week immediately before the test and during this week her condition deterioated rapidly. The doctor was not informed of this.....After he put her on Namenda, she began speaking in mid sentences. Then she became so weak and dehydrated from loss of bowel control we put her in a hospital and air lifted her to a new hospital. She deteriorated more and her head hung to the left side and she kept closing her right eye. Her neurologist said we could take her off namenda. She improved immediately in motor control, attitude and stopped completely the mid sentence trail off. Unbeknownest to me, my sister put her back on Namenda without telling me, and in the past three weeks she has not improved, in fact my sister said she was leaning again, and after I asked her if there were any medications in the past three weeks which had changed she confessed she put her back on Namenda, because her neurologists said put her back on. I said these neurologists have not been monitoring her behaviour the past several years. Of course I am furious. Namenda has only been in the states three years. And the effect of Aricept AND Namenda has not been studied in trials as far as I can see. Has anyone seen Aricept only for several years with really good effects, then the Namenda have such serious deterioration of the brain and functions?????
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Connie,
You seem to have your own evidence that the memantine has consequences you don't like. If some events or the pattern had been different I wonder if that would affect your certainty about your conclusion? I thought you were also describing other concurrent factors that could have the potential to confound apparent drug outcomes? I think that in anecdotes like yours, there lurks the possibility some unknown things could also be contributing to the results we see in real-time with our family member. Like you, I try to observe for Mom's demeanor and maybe my undocumented measure is how many times in a week she smiles. At my mother's nursing home, I ask them from time to time to remind me what to monitor for acute urinary tract infection. Their number one is "aberrant behavior or behavior change". But how do you measure that when Mom is profoundly aphasic? This means the family is reliant upon certified nurses' aides during routine daily "handling" to judge if Mom is having some hidden issue. Twice I, but not staff, have recognized "something odd" and twice the diagnosis was acute UTI. I can tell you that in a few days of start of the antibiotics, Mom actually smiled again. But could other factors I didn't know about contribute to her restored smiling? I guess so, but no idea what they are. Regarding her meds and her indicated symptoms, it is comforting for me to construct a cause-effect story each time because it helps me balance off the otherwise complete feeling of helplessness to control anything happening to her as the relentless mechanics of the dementia ravage on inside her. Returning to the combination of the two kinds of drugs with their two different activities, Forest Labs funded some trials in 2003 or 2004. You can see the report at: http://www.alz.org/News/04Q1/012104memantinedonepezil.asp One of the quotes from the study's report: "Though the benefit of the memantine/donepezil combination was statistically significant in treating moderate to severe symptoms according to the detailed assessments of function used in this study, the effect may be modest in terms of everyday situations and will vary from person to person." My Mom's Rx is combination Namenda & Exelon which I believe would be the same as saying Mom is taking donepezil (Aricept) & memantine (Namenda). Some days she does as you describe, lean in the wheel chair to one side. This leads to drooling. In another week, she sits upright and is (silently) engaged in the immediate environment around her, including eye expressions and arm movement. No drooling. As she is not combative and hasn't any history of difficuot behavior, in fact conveniently compliant, then I have no notion she is on and off psychtropics (leading to induced disengagement from her daily reality). None of those "nurse's helpers" tabs or capsules appear prn on her chart. I hope you discover something effective that she will tolerate. An option is to remove all, and allow her descending synaptic capacity and performance to return to "natural" state and allow the disease progression itself to dictate her pace of cognitive decline. Dave Learning Son Dave in Michigan |
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diana j, love my husband,Jesus and horses too. Virginia |
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My wife who was diagnosed as a mild Alzheimer's disease and was prescribed Aricept to take. However, she has side effects such as Vomiting and diarrea after having it 10 days. Then, doctor asked change to Namenda. Two questions:
1. Is she o.k. to continue Aricept when side effects such as diarrea and vomiting stopped?2. If she takes twow medicine,when she should take what first, e.g. Aricept in the morning and Namenda in evening before s;leep or take together same time in the morning ? Thanks, SB |
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Hello,
My mother was recently diagnosed with vascular dementia. Since then, she has been prescribed Aricept. I have to say, my mother's ability to communicate and her short term memory have improved. I was researching Aricept online and I found several articles saying there may be a risk of death when using Aricept to treat vascular dementia. I would hate to take my mom off of this drug that has shown such good progress but if it is life threatening I would have to. The FDA has not issued any warning because they don't feel it is warranted yet. Does anyone have information regarding this? Shelley Shelleyjmy@aol.com Massachusetts |
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Hi Nancy,
I know what you are going thru!!!! You are not doing you or your mom any favors by keeping her living by herself. I recently had to admit my mom to a nursing home. It was difficult, worst day of my life. But the next day she was on the phone telling me she loved the place. It was the best thing for her. She has gained weight, isn't depressed, and is taken care of 24 hours a day. Best thing is to visit a few places and find one you are comfortable with. Don't expect her to like the idea. My mother said she would kill herself the first day. But the next, she was fine. I think it would be best for all involved, including your mom. Best of luck. Shelley Shelleyjmy@aol.com Massachusetts |
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Do you give Aricept before bedtime? Talk to your doctor about giving the Aricept in the morning...to decrease the nightmares. Also - if you add Namenda too early in the disease it can cause confusion (see Treatment options on the Alz.or website). Because if you block the receptor site too early it can cause more cell death. Talk to your MD about the appropriate time to add Namenda. Namenda is indicated for Mod to Severe...MMSE 20-26 is Mild. 19-10 is Moderate. 10 and below is Severe. |
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It is unfortunate that you have had to go through this. Yes, Aricept has MANY clinical trials showing improvement/maintance in cognition, behavior and function. Just to name a few: Seltzer (Arch of Neurology 2004), Winblad (Neurology 2001), Holmes (Neurology 2001), Winblad (Lancet 2006). ________________ Something you may want to talk to your MD about - Namenda blocks a certain receptor site. If started too early, Namenda can cause cell death....leading to confusion, halluciatins, etc. This is also stated on the Alz.org website under treatment options under Memantine. Namenda is indicated for moderate-severe ONLY. MMSE 26-20 is mild. MMSE 19-10 is mod. Below 10 is severe. Arciept should always be the foundation of therapy...then add on Namenda. Namenda does not have sufficient clinical data to back up mono-therapy. The American Academy of Neurology believes that AD is due in part by a cholinergic deficit....hence Cholinesterase Inhibitors FIRST LINE treatment for AD. Memantine (Namenda) is NOT a cholinesterase Inhibitor. Hope this helps. |
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SJW is helping us understand the difference between the two kinds of approved drugs. In the context of a discussion about Aricept and Aricept co-scripted, SJW says Aricept should be the foundation therapy, and if indicated, complemented by a memantine. Only one thing to add here - the other two approved acetylcholinesterase inhibitors besides Aricept are Exelon and Razadyne.
Learning Son Dave in Michigan |
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my father in law is 83 years old. He is having issues with his memory- and his GP wants him to start Namenda and aricpet tomorrow. After reading this sight - I am concerned about starting him on both at the same time. How will I know if his reaction is to one of the other if we don't try one alone first. Perhpas his doctor is not a true specialist in this area - and I should bring him to someone else. Is starting on both a common thing?
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I have been told that it's better to start one drug for a few weeks to see if it's well tolerated. Then add the second drug. My husband started out with Aricept then added Namenda a month later.
I have read that Nameda is not to be used in the mild stage of AD which is where he's at. The doctors in Georgia recommend getting on both meds as soon as possible. At this time I feel that he is doing much better. Does anyone else have any comments on staring on Namenda in the early stages? |
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My husband is 70, diagnosed just over a year ago. The doctor ordered Namenda and we used a starter pack. Incremental doses. He averted side effects that way. But.............
After a year on Namenda I can't state with certainty if it has helped slow things down with my husbands progression of AD. (meds pretty much just slow the process, not stop it. Although his doctor said in early stages people have actually reported some improvement. She did tell us not to expect that.).... I've actually seen progression of his disease while in this first year of Namenda, however it is an unknown if this is the "slowed down" version of how he might be had he never started on Namenda. I wouldn't want to stop it and find out........yikes. Diana ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Lost husband Paul to Alzheimer's Disease... he's found peace at last...March 14, 2009 <" {{{{>< ~~~ <"{{{{><~~~ <"(((><~~~<"({()})>< ~~~ <"{{{{>< ~~~ <"((((><~~~ Isaiah 43:2 My father, James, is in stage 6-7 of Alzheimer's and resides in Memory Care facility. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass. ~~~It's about learning to dance in the rain. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
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Up to now I had never heard of any problems with namenda, nor with it used in conjuntion with Aricept. I am surprised at that. I feel like I should have known more about the meds my husband is on. My own father is on aricept (he's in a nursing facility.) He's been on Aricept exclusively for 4 years now. He seems to be fine with it,though I kind of wonder if it might be why my fathers ambulation and balance were affected. He had problems with his low back for many years, and not long after he had begun therapy for the AD he stopped ambulating all together. Hmmm! We just assumed it was due to the back problems.
Diana ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Lost husband Paul to Alzheimer's Disease... he's found peace at last...March 14, 2009 <" {{{{>< ~~~ <"{{{{><~~~ <"(((><~~~<"({()})>< ~~~ <"{{{{>< ~~~ <"((((><~~~ Isaiah 43:2 My father, James, is in stage 6-7 of Alzheimer's and resides in Memory Care facility. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass. ~~~It's about learning to dance in the rain. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
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my parents have been on these for 3 1/2 yrs. I ws told the med stop working after 3 yrs and to take them off by a neurolgist. Does anyone know anything about this? I have seen a decline in them and the expense is too much, over
$3000 to the pharmacy as of today. WE don't know what to do. Their doctor has agreeed to tapper them off. Am I doing the right thing??? |
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Hello tkb - The question about Rx both drugs concomitantly before late stages sounds familiar as if someone even in the last 4 weeks addressed that subject, and maybe partly answering your question. Are you able to browse this forum for its past entries? If the header on your reply page has "namenda and aricept" as the name of the "Reply To:" then click on that for 4-5 pages of this forum. No indexing here so it is a tedious hunt if you have time.
Learning Son Dave in Michigan |
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My mom has been diagnosd with vascular dementia rather then Alzheimers. They have started her on Aricept (she also takes Lexipro for Obsessive compulsive disorder). While it is early and we have not seen much in the way of results, she has started with fecal incontinence. Anyone experience this? She is pretty high functioning: lives with my dad, doesn;t drive or cook but otherwise cares for herself. The incontinence is so frustrating. Cannot figure out if it's the Aricept or not. Any thoughts appreciated.
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I joined this forum awhile back but haven't been very active. Been too busy caring for my mother with FTD (frontotemporal dementia) formally known as Pick's disease.
When I came across this string on Namenda I felt I had to do a post. Even though the Cholinesterase inhibitors (Aricept, Razadyne,Cognex and Exelon)are FDA approved for Alzheimer's disease there has been no proof or indication they help with other forms of dementia. The newest kid on the block is our friend Namenda which is not a Cholinesterase inhibitor. The latest treatment plans for dementia have been to combine a medication like Aricept with Namenda. My mother was put on Razadyne even though there is no proof that it will help her FTD. She has been on it since 9/26/06. Then just over a month ago her neurologist add the Namenda. She started out with just 5 mg in the morning for the first week then onto 5mg AM and 5mg PM the second until at the 3rd week she was on the regular dose of 10mg AM and PM. At about this time her behavior began to change. From one day to the next she could no longer tie her shoes. She began obsessing about her hair touching her forehead and began staring into the mirror for 20 to 30 mins at a time. Then she began to hold her left hand to her nose and cover it. The only time she stopped this or didn't do it was when she ate. She also got much more confused about things as well. She also began having headaches all the time, which she has rarely ever had in her life. I became very concerned and called her doctor and informed him of what was going on. He is not one who likes to medicate to begin with which I feel is a blessing these days. He indicated to me, which for a doctor again these days is very unusual, that first of all the meds my mother is on have shown no proof of helping her form of dementia. His view point also was that even for people with Alzheimer's they offer little to no help. So he told me to at least stop the Namenda and see what happened. Within 4 days of stopping the Namenda, her headaches went away, she stopped grasping and holding her nose, she began tying her shoes again and has become more interactive with me. Incidentally just recently the British Medical Journal "Lancet" published an article of an ongoing independent study and research on Aricept. Their findings stated mostly what my mother's doctor had told me. They concluded that in most cases Aricept has not preformed as advertised. Naturally Pfizer had a bird over this news and even the Alzheimer's association made a comment (this would be natural since 5% of their donations come from Pfizer). It would appear to me from reading the posts on here that your loved ones may have been doing OK on just Aricept alone but the troubles began once it was combined with Namenda. I am not a doctor but have surely done a great deal of research into this stuff. As a side note you might be interested in checking out this web page: http://extoxnet.orst.edu/tibs/cholines.htm It talks about how many pesticides contain, "CHOLINESTERASE INHIBITION" and the effect on the human body. And we give this to people for dementia treatment? Makes you really wonder. Hope this post isn't too long and helps someone. Or at least provokes further discussion, dialogue and makes us think. Steven B El Cajon, CA. 92020(San Diego Metro Area) eyeoftaurus@cox.net |
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I would like to know about the german homeopathy company and the remedy you are using for alzheimers
I have used homepathics with my children their entire life and they have never had an antibiotic. They are not 37 26 and 24. Joan |
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Patti, philpat1@comcast.net |
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Patti, philpat1@comcast.net |
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Hi, I have just joined tonight. After reading several comments about medication combinations, it seems that Aricept and Namenda just do not work for many people. My mom was diagnosed 6 years ago and was put on 5mg of Aricept, she is 77 years old. She had an expected slow decline for about 4 1/2 years and then was put on Namenda 10mg twice a day, 1-a.m and 1-p.m.. She deteriorated quickly. Doc said it was probably not the Namenda, but the disease itself. They see mom for 10 minutes every four months,we are here with her 24/7. I am talking hallucinations, violent outbursts and paranoia so bad that she had to be put into a behavioral health unit where she was given risperdal. This took away the "boogeymen" and the evil people in the mirror. At least she was pleasant again.
Three weeks ago she was admitted to the hospital for a bowel obstruction and was taken off all meds and they were feeding her I.V.They did keep her on the rispeadol at my request due to the fact that we had worked so hard to get the dosage just right. Twenty-four hours later she was bright-eyed and actualy stringing a few words together. After neing in her room for a few minutes I went to the nursing station and the nurse agreed that she was a totally different person than when she was first admitted. My Mom is now home and doing well. Trying to communicate, smiling and even a response at the end of a joke. She is on Aricept 5mg once a day and "NO Namenda" I have seen much improvement. It seems to me that Docs seem to overmedicate the elderly. I have decided to take her to an Internist who specializes in geriatric care,only. Instead of 3 different Docs. Any response to this? Thanks Patti, philpat1@comcast.net |
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My Mom is on Namenda twice a day, and it seems that whatever benefit has plateaued after 2 years. I am going to ask her doctor about adding Aricept, since the studies indicate this might help, but reading all of the negative results from the combo, I am really worried about this causing more harm than helping. I would love to hear if anyone has some positive results from adding Aricept to Namenda. Thanks
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Timothy,
I share the opinion of my brothers that the Exelon/Namenda cocktail produced an improvement when the Namenda was added. It was hard for us to measure, certainly subjective, and based on Mom's demeanor and affect. However, when there was a subsequent mix-up with the pharmacy-provider at the nursing home, the Namenda dosing was precipitously ceased without any down-titration. For that 20 day period, I do not recall any marked new behaviors or change in affect above the usual cyclical background of her SDAT, some days engaged and alert followed by comatose-like days marked by apparent somnolence. I cannot visit her during most daytime hours but when I do, I believe I see a diurnal variation, better demeanor early & midday than evenings (the usual daily visiting for me). For Mom, I am reluctant to request the experiment that walks down the Namenda dose to zero leaving the Exelon alone. I cannot conclude from the AA website here that it is good or bad to cease the co-dosed Namenda. It is likely that there are now hundreds on hundreds of co-scripted SDAT victims in USA. I am unable to measure the changes, adverse or beneficial, of these hundreds of cases until their advocates & families decide to report here their experiences. If they would all send us their opinions, I would be better able to decide if I would be persuaded by a sound statistic to retain or to cease the Namenda or to retain or cease the Exelon, or to maintain the cocktail, as is. Learning Son Dave in Michigan |
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try giving aricept and neamenda in the morning after breakfast. was told aricept can give bad nightmares if givin in the evening before bed. mil has been on aricept for 2 yrs and dr just gave her namenda 3 weeks ago. at first she was real tired and confused off and on but doing alot better even remembered her date of birth which to this point she coulldn't do. i quess it really depends on the indidvidual taking these meds.she has calmed down some since put on namenda and her modd swings are less. hope this helps some.
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My mom has been taking both namenda and aricept for years now, and now she is having slight twitchy, zerky motions and smacking of the mouth, ala the dreaded tardive dyskinesia (listed as reported as a result from namenda but not normal side effect). Has anyone experienced anything like this from these meds? Thanks.
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TO ANN L
MY FATHER AND MOTHER GOT HELP W THERE MEDICATION COST THEY ARE GOING THRU A STATE PROGRAM CALLED PADD THEY ONLY PAY 5.00 FOR ANY MEDICATION. I THINK IF THE INCOME IS BELOW 27,000 A YEAR THEN U SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET IT |
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I'm sorry to hear your Dad is having a hard time. It sounds like sundown syndrome to me. My mom did not do well on Namenda, to be brutally honest, it was brainless on speed which made for an awful combination. For my mom I think the meds were started too late as she always refused meds prior to moving in with me two years ago, alz. since approx. 1999. Occasionally you may get a good response by taking him for a car ride, coming back and saying we're home. Paranoia is one of the symptoms of alz. (as you probably already know) so don't think you are doing something wrong it is just part of the illness.
Sincerely, Arlene Caregiver of mom n dad |
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I cared for Grandma, for two years.
Aricept 1x a day, and namenda twice a day were what she took in her last year. For those wondering if it is helping? Gram was taken off Aricept, when my aunt took over Gram's care. (thinking it was the cause of nausea) Last stages of CHF was actually the cause of the nausea, but by the time they realized that ... About 10 days? off Aricept ... even simple boggle was out (with me setting up letters all the right way) After a 2-3 weeks, she could no longer play cards at all. She was doing both (if not well, but doing them on the meds) She was put back on the meds ( I don't know how much later), but when I visited her in less then a year since she left NY... She could not remember what she just ate, with the plate right in front of her, or anyone she met from the day, or week before. So, my advice from Gram's experience... take care before stopping the meds. We were told, when she started the meds that if you start and then stop, they will not work as well as they had. Well... in her case we all saw the changes and that to be true. |
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My wife has been on aricept for 8 years we added namenda 4 years ago .She takes 10 mg of namenda in the morning and evening and 10 mg of aricept at night. I think they work because she isn't much worst.
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The Doc started my wife now age 76 on Aricept about 5-6 years ago. She started nightmares, etc., so then started Namenda and has been on this for maybe 4-5 years. She tolorated the Namenda well. Does it do any good?? Hard to tell, maybe. Then new Doc said to add Aricept to the Nemenda. Oh, boy after about 3 days, things got pretty wild. No sleep for either one of us. So stopped the Aricept and then Namenda, now she has settled down. Everybody has different reactions, but I have her on as much organic foods as I can provide and things are improving. It's a long goodbye, but quality of life is very important. Bless you all.
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I guess these drugs affect each person different. When someone recently asked me if the meds helped, I caught myself in mid-sentence saying NO THEY DID NOT, then I back-tracked and said well that isn't a fair statement, because I have no clue how she'd be today if she'd never taken her first pill. I do know after about 1 year on Aricept they changed to Namenda. Daddy did not even tell me, another big issue that needs to be worked out between father and daughter, but I order their meds at caremark.com now, so I know everything they take. Is so sad, no wonder seniors (disease or not) can't always remmeber to take their meds correfctly. There are too freaking many to keep up with.
ShaAnne in OK sumhotlegs@windstream.net |
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I was encouraged to read about one person's experience with his mother coming off of aricept and namenda. My mother is end stage dementia, she has been diagnosed with vascular dementia and alz. she is now on hospice, since then her dr. has stopped both aricept and namenda. Her appetite improved and she is more alert. This has confused me so much, and I have wondered what is going on.I'm sure it is not the usual. I'm sure these drugs have been a big help to her in the earlier stages. I'm glad I found this site. thanks Carol k
carol in NC |
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Re Aricept and Lexapro. I have Medicare and supplemental insurance, but am now in the "doughnut hole" and must pay 100% of my drug costs. I do not expect to buy enough to get to the next level, where my insurance kicks in again, so I buy my medicine from Canada. I did this for several years before the Medicare became available and have not had any bad experiences with this. I an currently using CanadaDrugs.Com and am very pleased with their service, but I am sure there are other good suppliers too.
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My father was diagnosed with alcohol related dementia about 2 years ago. It was very slow going trying to get the dr.s to help us get him off the booze against his will. Finally he was afflicted with Congestive Heart Failure..which led to him being treated by a Cardiologist who recommended a pace maker.
While he was hosptitalized he was hallucinating and fighting with the staff. They finally had to restrain him and detox him. Then they said he couldn't live alone if they released him, so I moved in with him. He's started on namenda first, along with adavan, then aricept was added and a drug called zyprexa. Needless to say, the first few months were horrible, he physically fought me almost daily. Now he is much more calm..it's been 9 months. I try to make sure I give the Aricept at the same time every night about 9. If the time changes more than an hour, he gets worse. Confusion and delusions mostly. No more violence really. He's a lot easier to handle and he enjoys his day more, even if he doesn't remember. LOL. Give it time. |
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[quote]Why do you think the last US homeopathic school closed in 1920? Could it be due to advances in medical science and education?[/quote] possibly because the "medical experts" at the time could not embrace the idea of something so natural could be effective and lobbied homeopathy out of the mainstream. Glad to see the practice of homeopathy is alive and well.
EllenB, Daughter of Mother w/Alzheimer's in Steubenville, OH |
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Hi EllenB,
I was born in Steubenville, Ohio and grew up across the river in Weirton, WV. Small world. john1943 my_pal_john@yahoo.com (Retired auto engineer and caregiver). |
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My husband ( Jim) is on Aricept and namena for a year and a half, But the first year it did nothing as The neurologist asked his Primary Dr, to take him off Detrol as it interfares with Aricept and namenda, But our Dr. didnt take him off it as the urologist said to keep him on it, instead of checking with the Drs. he just left it go. so 1 year he took it and it didnt do anything, Now he is taking it and so far it seems ok, He gets confused, can't drive and the Dr. suggest always have someone with him. I will keep you all informed how he does with the Meds. Lorraine B.
Lorraine B. Haloran My husband has Alzheimer's |
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My husband has been has been told he has alhzheimer's and started on Aricept for a year which, helped very little then he was put on Amenda once in morning and one at night, along with Aricept an night, He takes his night time at dinner with his meal. and it didn't seem to bother him in any way. He is very good in the morning til about 3 or 4 pm. then he gets a little confused. My Druggist, told me if I have anything important to tell Jim, do it in the morning cause by afternoon they get tired and confused. He seems to be doing good, we do play Cards at night and he is doing much better playing, My druggist tells me to keep him busy with little easy jobs. They must keep active. We go places. He even offered to be lay reader in our church, he always did it before, He stopped for awhile and now is doing it again,
Lorraine Halloran Lorraine B. Haloran My husband has Alzheimer's |
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