My mother has been in a fragile balancing state for quite a few years. My family had been giving her Namenda AM and PM, and Aricept in the AM. She was able to take care of her daily needs, and the day of her injury, she had been at the gym for 30 minutes. Unfortunately, she fell, sustaining a traumatic head injury.
She made it through ICU, then LTAC, where the neuro docs kept her on her memory medication. However, when she got to the SNF rehab, the primary care decided, on May 27th, to take her off her Namenda and Aricept because it sometimes causes "tiredness." No one notified us of the medication change. I found it out accidently around 3-4 weeks later. On June 4th, she could sing happy birthday to my father. Now she speaks in whispers and is hard to understand if at all. Does anyone know if we can come back with the medications now? Or have we passed the point of no return?

Juli---It is unfortunate that someone took it upon themselves to tinker with your mother's medications while she was in rehab. The very least that they could have done was to have informed you in a more timely manner.

I'm not certain if I understand your question correctly...

If you are asking if your mother will be able to make up for the losses she suffered when her medication was discontinued...No one can answer your question for sure. My suggestion is that you resume the medications after contacting your mother's physician. He will likely phone in a prescription for the 'starter' pack.

If you are asking if the medications can be restarted, they can. Contact your mother's physician. Let him know how long they have been discontinued. I suspect that he will phone in a prescription for the 'starter pack'. After completion the normal dosing schedule will be resumed.


An injury and/or being placed in different environments, will often cause losses in our loved ones. A return to normal surroundings and routine sometimes works wonders. My suggestion is to resume the medications...and hope for the best.

Good luck and welcome to the forums.