Follow
Share

Mom started not tolerating memantine (a drug to slow alzheimer' s progression). What do they replace it with? Or do they just stop giving it as that seems to be the case. Drug has known side effects which Mom is now experiencing.

The POA should speak with Mom's doctor regarding possible replacements. Really a medical question, this, and individual to the patient and her care team.
Helpful Answer (1)
Reply to AlvaDeer
Report
firsttimer1 Sep 13, 2024
found this on line
In the later stages of dementia, medications that help with memory and thinking are less likely to help as much. However, they still may improve symptoms slightly. Most doctors will continue to prescribe them unless: 

the side effects are having a negative impact on the person’s health or wellbeing 
the person can no longer safely take the medication in the way prescribed, even with support from someone else.
(1)
Report
See 3 more replies
What are the side effect
Helpful Answer (0)
Reply to Sandy6558
Report
firsttimer1 Sep 13, 2024
diahrea, constipation, abdominal discomfort. all well documented. neurologist said, stop taking for now.
(0)
Report
I would take her off of it. The benefits which are minimal at best are not worth all the side effects she is having.

I wonder how they gauge and track the success of this medication on actually slowing the progression since they really have no way of saying if she hadn't taken the drug if she would be in the same condition mentally that she is in now on the drug.
Helpful Answer (3)
Reply to sp196902
Report
Fawnby Sep 13, 2024
I had this very conversation with LO's doctor about Aricept
after discontinuing it. Doctor instructed me to restart Aricept and keep a chart of incidents so that we could see if there was improvement or decline when he was again taking the med. LO definitely declined at the about the same rate. It's not entirely scientific with this method, but at least it's a way to observe in a more objective way than the emotional, "Eek! Ack!! He wouldn't have peed on my shoes if he was still taking that memory drug!"
(1)
Report
See 1 more reply
My husband was unable to tolerate the first dementia drug (Aricept). He was having audio and visual hallucinations. This drug was stopped and he was placed on another drug which he was able to tolerate. I am not sure if the dementia drugs helped or not as the dementia progressed over time.
Helpful Answer (0)
Reply to Grannie9
Report

firsttimer1, curious if this pill can be taken with a meal or should it be taken separately? I know for myself, I can get an upset stomach if I don't take certain pills with a meal. Or if I take a pill with other medicines that it's not a good mix. Just curious.
Helpful Answer (0)
Reply to freqflyer
Report

Mom was getting on going UTI's from holding her urine on Memantine so we stopped it. We saw no difference other than she no longer had UTIs.
Helpful Answer (0)
Reply to brandee
Report

When I stopped both Aricept and Namenda for my Dh aunt, her pulse returned to a normal rate. She had taken both for years. Her doc thought they were responsible for the slow advancement of her dementia. I’ve only had the one dementia patient that I cared for so hard for me to know. She will be 98 next month. I can look at videos I made over the years and there is a great difference.
Helpful Answer (0)
Reply to 97yroldmom
Report

My understanding is that none of these drugs used in patients with Alzheimer's slow the progression of the disease. Rather, they diminish the symptoms, making life easier for the person taking the medication and for others in the life of this person. As the disease progresses, these medications are not effective in reducing the symptoms and so eventually are discontinued. There are differences among the drugs and in the stages of Alzheimer's in which they are used, so it would be worthwhile to ask her doctor if another medication might be tried.

I am just turning 80 and have discussed Alzheier's medications a little with my geriatric psychiatrist. If I eventually have Alzheimer's, the listed side effects, if they occurred, would bother me a lot! My thinking now is that I would rather not take any of these medications, but if my symptoms were causing problems for others, I would want my medical POA to ask if medication could/should be used for me.
Helpful Answer (1)
Reply to Igloocar
Report

Ask a Question
Subscribe to
Our Newsletter