I'm being pressured by the nursing home where my mom lives to discontinue Namenda and Exelon. She's been on Namenda since July 2006, Exelon since Oct. 2006. I know doctors state the effectiveness can be months to a couple years and only delays memory loss; she has multi-infarct dementia and starting signs of Alzheimer's. Her doctor states these medicines are causing her behavioral problems, anxiety, agitation, hallucinations, etc. I am hesitant to remove these meds for fear of rapid decline in memory loss. Recommendations?
Thanks, Karin

Dear Karin,

Thanks you for writing to us; I’m sorry to hear that you are faced with yet another difficult decision. It seems that there are so many hard choices to make when someone you love has dementia. I want to preface my response by reminding you that Care Consultants are not medically trained. We are counselors and social workers with access to reliable information about Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.

My thought is that you ought to follow the physician’s advice and stop the Namenda and Exelon. There are two reasons. First, medications that are typically prescribed for Alzheimer’s disease may be less effective or even cause unwanted side effects in patients diagnosed with multi-infarct (vascular) dementia. The relationship between the two forms of dementia is complex and is the subject of many ongoing research studies. To treat someone with both forms of dementia, physicians will often try various combinations of medications until the right combination is found to reduce symptoms in that particular individual. Therefore, treatment is still found largely through trial and error.

Second, the experience of living with symptoms of anxiety, agitation, and hallucinations is likely worse than living with memory impairment. No matter what medications are administered, the disease continues to progress. Medications only address symptoms of the disease, not the disease itself. Memory loss is inevitable no matter what you do.

Perhaps once she is off of the Namenda and Exelon, the doctor can prescribe medications that more accurately address her current symptoms.

You might want to discuss your concerns with the pharmaceutical companies.

You can learn more about Namenda through the website @ www.namenda.com or by calling 1-877-262-6363.

You can learn more about Exelon through the manufacturer’s main website @ www.novaris.com or @ www.alzheimersdisease.com. For drug/patient assistance you can call 1-800-277-2254 or customer service @ 1-888-669-6682.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us with your concerns or questions through the 24-hour helpline @ 1-800-272-3900.

I hope this helps. Let us know what you decide if you like.

Sincerely,
Kathleen