LOVE FOR MOM
11-14-2003, 07:38 PM
mom has been having these dilusions that her husband is her father.
it takes about an hour to calm her down
she cannot understand where her father comes from
or where he goes, then her husband shows up and she yells at him for
leaving her
she is very scared.
how do others cope with this?
it takes about an hour to calm her down
she cannot understand where her father comes from
or where he goes, then her husband shows up and she yells at him for
leaving her
she is very scared.
how do others cope with this?
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gizmolove
11-19-2003, 01:58 PM
:angel: Dear Love For Mom,
In careing for someone with AD, one of your most important weapons is a daily journal where you can keep all the drugs that your mom is takeing and how they are effecting or agreeing with her many problems. The information here should be a brief summary of the Drug, what it's given for, side effects, dosage, times of day given, RX'd by who, and effectiveness. Also keep in this journal a daily log of generally how she is doing. And, consult with her physician on a regular basis to raise, lower, or substitute or discontinue any medications deamed appropriate by him/her as to your mom's overall care.
Your mother should be on one of the following for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease:
Aricept, Exelon, or Reminyl
Anti-depressants given when and as necessary are: (But not limited to)
Celexa, Zoloft, Paxil, or Remeron.
Drugs prescribed for agitation and or antipsycotics are also given. Here is a small list of appropriate drugs that are sometimes prescribed in small dosages:
Risperdal (lots of side effects); Zyprexa; Seroquel; Klonopin; or Depakote may also be prescribed.
Also, a mild anti-anxiety agent such as Ativan or BuSpar may be helpful.
The key to treating someone with AD is to keep them functioning as normally as possiable, for as long as possiable. And, of course getting them in a climate that is both safe and non-threatening. Their enviornment should be as non stressful as possiable. Do not mentally tax them by argueing with them or makeing them do what is beyond their level of understanding. (Keep them in their "Comfort Zone" with lots of positive reinforcement.
Hope this helps,
Gizmolove :wave:
In careing for someone with AD, one of your most important weapons is a daily journal where you can keep all the drugs that your mom is takeing and how they are effecting or agreeing with her many problems. The information here should be a brief summary of the Drug, what it's given for, side effects, dosage, times of day given, RX'd by who, and effectiveness. Also keep in this journal a daily log of generally how she is doing. And, consult with her physician on a regular basis to raise, lower, or substitute or discontinue any medications deamed appropriate by him/her as to your mom's overall care.
Your mother should be on one of the following for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease:
Aricept, Exelon, or Reminyl
Anti-depressants given when and as necessary are: (But not limited to)
Celexa, Zoloft, Paxil, or Remeron.
Drugs prescribed for agitation and or antipsycotics are also given. Here is a small list of appropriate drugs that are sometimes prescribed in small dosages:
Risperdal (lots of side effects); Zyprexa; Seroquel; Klonopin; or Depakote may also be prescribed.
Also, a mild anti-anxiety agent such as Ativan or BuSpar may be helpful.
The key to treating someone with AD is to keep them functioning as normally as possiable, for as long as possiable. And, of course getting them in a climate that is both safe and non-threatening. Their enviornment should be as non stressful as possiable. Do not mentally tax them by argueing with them or makeing them do what is beyond their level of understanding. (Keep them in their "Comfort Zone" with lots of positive reinforcement.
Hope this helps,
Gizmolove :wave:
LOVE FOR MOM
11-19-2003, 06:08 PM
thank you for your info
mom takes exalon and paxil now
and she has just started on memantine.
she was on depakote be she was completely washed out on that drug!
i never thought about buspar but will talk to doc about it
because i take it and it works for anxiety well
again thank you and i will keep the board posted on the memantine
progress if any at all
god bless all the persons we care for and all the caregivers
ej
mom takes exalon and paxil now
and she has just started on memantine.
she was on depakote be she was completely washed out on that drug!
i never thought about buspar but will talk to doc about it
because i take it and it works for anxiety well
again thank you and i will keep the board posted on the memantine
progress if any at all
god bless all the persons we care for and all the caregivers
ej
camachinist
11-19-2003, 09:56 PM
Has the doctor considered dialing back the Paxil and monitoring the results..??
BTW, my mom had more delusions while on Buspirone (Buspar) than after I tapered her off. She's not on any mood-altering or anti-psychotic drugs now and is just taking Aricept. She remembers the hallucinations and delusions but no longer demostrates having active ones.
Personally, I thing she is much better off the drugs, although not as "controlled". I've learned ways of dealing with her behaviors, without drugs, from the AD center and from some excellent books on "habilitating" an AD/dementia patient. My mom has vascular dementia in the stage 3-4 range.
IMO, drugs are great but they're not the be-all and end-all. Use them carefully.
Best wishes!
Pat
BTW, my mom had more delusions while on Buspirone (Buspar) than after I tapered her off. She's not on any mood-altering or anti-psychotic drugs now and is just taking Aricept. She remembers the hallucinations and delusions but no longer demostrates having active ones.
Personally, I thing she is much better off the drugs, although not as "controlled". I've learned ways of dealing with her behaviors, without drugs, from the AD center and from some excellent books on "habilitating" an AD/dementia patient. My mom has vascular dementia in the stage 3-4 range.
IMO, drugs are great but they're not the be-all and end-all. Use them carefully.
Best wishes!
Pat