GoldenRetrieverGirl
02-05-2004, 09:29 AM
I have posted on this board a couple of times and you folks have been so helpful.
Here is my question: My MIL was just put on Namenda this week and I was wondering if any of you had any experiences with it? I know of two people that are/were on it. One is no longer on it, as it was not making any difference and the other is still on it, although her caregiver said that it appears that it is not making a difference anymore. They had seen improvement initially, but that lasted a couple of months and now they are back where they were. Also, my MIL has vascular dementia, with maybe Alzheimers as well.
Thanks,
Jennifer
Here is my question: My MIL was just put on Namenda this week and I was wondering if any of you had any experiences with it? I know of two people that are/were on it. One is no longer on it, as it was not making any difference and the other is still on it, although her caregiver said that it appears that it is not making a difference anymore. They had seen improvement initially, but that lasted a couple of months and now they are back where they were. Also, my MIL has vascular dementia, with maybe Alzheimers as well.
Thanks,
Jennifer
Sponsor
Bettyhere
02-05-2004, 03:39 PM
I have posted on this board a couple of times and you folks have been so helpful.
Here is my question: My MIL was just put on Namenda this week and I was wondering if any of you had any experiences with it? I know of two people that are/were on it. One is no longer on it, as it was not making any difference and the other is still on it, although her caregiver said that it appears that it is not making a difference anymore. They had seen improvement initially, but that lasted a couple of months and now they are back where they were. Also, my MIL has vascular dementia, with maybe Alzheimers as well.
Thanks,
Jennifer
I have no personal experience w/Namenda, but from other boards it appears as if it's 50/50, which seems to be the experience of the 2 people you know. Either it works and some symptoms are reversed, at least for a few months or so, or else it does nothing or has unpleasant side-effects.
Here is my question: My MIL was just put on Namenda this week and I was wondering if any of you had any experiences with it? I know of two people that are/were on it. One is no longer on it, as it was not making any difference and the other is still on it, although her caregiver said that it appears that it is not making a difference anymore. They had seen improvement initially, but that lasted a couple of months and now they are back where they were. Also, my MIL has vascular dementia, with maybe Alzheimers as well.
Thanks,
Jennifer
I have no personal experience w/Namenda, but from other boards it appears as if it's 50/50, which seems to be the experience of the 2 people you know. Either it works and some symptoms are reversed, at least for a few months or so, or else it does nothing or has unpleasant side-effects.
Jacks
02-05-2004, 07:09 PM
I have posted on this board a couple of times and you folks have been so helpful.
Here is my question: My MIL was just put on Namenda this week and I was wondering if any of you had any experiences with it? I know of two people that are/were on it. One is no longer on it, as it was not making any difference and the other is still on it, although her caregiver said that it appears that it is not making a difference anymore. They had seen improvement initially, but that lasted a couple of months and now they are back where they were. Also, my MIL has vascular dementia, with maybe Alzheimers as well.
Thanks,
Jennifer
My aunt has bin on it about a year. I don't know if it is making a differnce but afraid to take her off it, to find out she is deteriorating. You have to have the right expectation with this drug. The claim is 6 month continuing dressing themseves and going to the bathroom with out help. My aunt is 72 diagnoised at 68 off the road at 71 living alone she recieves meals on wheels and has dinner at my mothers house every night. She has lost her sense of taste but continues eating with a good appetite. She is in excellent health, to have a conversation with her is very challenging she is in good spirits all the time. hope this helps
Here is my question: My MIL was just put on Namenda this week and I was wondering if any of you had any experiences with it? I know of two people that are/were on it. One is no longer on it, as it was not making any difference and the other is still on it, although her caregiver said that it appears that it is not making a difference anymore. They had seen improvement initially, but that lasted a couple of months and now they are back where they were. Also, my MIL has vascular dementia, with maybe Alzheimers as well.
Thanks,
Jennifer
My aunt has bin on it about a year. I don't know if it is making a differnce but afraid to take her off it, to find out she is deteriorating. You have to have the right expectation with this drug. The claim is 6 month continuing dressing themseves and going to the bathroom with out help. My aunt is 72 diagnoised at 68 off the road at 71 living alone she recieves meals on wheels and has dinner at my mothers house every night. She has lost her sense of taste but continues eating with a good appetite. She is in excellent health, to have a conversation with her is very challenging she is in good spirits all the time. hope this helps
SnowyLynne63
02-07-2004, 03:31 PM
I have several friends who loved ones are on Namenda,tho several have been on the Memantine before it became available here in the states.They have had very good results with it.Another friend whose hubby has been on it a week,started becoming violent,never have being before...........It just doepends on the person.......
GoldenRetrieverGirl
02-08-2004, 08:21 PM
Thank you all of you for replying. I understand that everyone is different, just trying to get a feel for what others have heard or know. That's one of the strange things about the disease as well, everyone is different...
Take care,
Jennifer
Take care,
Jennifer
volgirl
02-14-2004, 08:44 PM
I want to get my mother on memantine, but don't know a lot about it. She has had Alzheimer's for about ten years now, has been on Aricept the entire time, and is now unable to dress herself or go to the bathroom by herself, though she will go if someone places her on the toilet. She is still feeds herself sometimes, and walks very well. In some of the information I have read about memantine it sounded like the patient was left on their Aricept, and put on the memantine as well. Can someone tell me if this is right? I know the doctor probably makes that decision, but I would like to know all I can before I call. Can someone tell me where I can get some good information on this drug?
camachinist
02-15-2004, 02:50 PM
GRG,
Give it a month or two and be mindful of side-effects. As Betty mentioned, some folks on concurrent therapy have had agitation outbreaks.
Only way to really know is to try it.
Questions:
What stage is your MIL? How are her ADL's?
What current AD/VD therapy is she on? Aricept, etc?
Can she have 24/7 observation during the titration process? (side effect monitoring)
Pat
Give it a month or two and be mindful of side-effects. As Betty mentioned, some folks on concurrent therapy have had agitation outbreaks.
Only way to really know is to try it.
Questions:
What stage is your MIL? How are her ADL's?
What current AD/VD therapy is she on? Aricept, etc?
Can she have 24/7 observation during the titration process? (side effect monitoring)
Pat
GoldenRetrieverGirl
02-15-2004, 08:45 PM
Volgirl-
My MIL is still on Aricept and has just been placed on the Namenda as well. I beleive that they have a website. Do a search on the web, as that is what I have done several times.
Good luck!
Pat-
As you probably read above, my MIL is still on the Aricept. I am not sure what stage she is at. I would guess the late part of the middle stage. She has some trouble walking. She sort of reminds of a mentally ill person, with a slow shuffle? Anyway, her memory still surprises us sometimes, but overall, her short term is very poor. I guess my FIL observes her. He is on leave from work right now recovering from neck surgery. She has been complaining of headaches to him, but when I asked him if they were recent (since starting this new med.) he said that he did not know. Her appetite has slowed in the last week as well. Her sister and BIL are here from Ohio to take care of her while my FIL recovers. (You can't imagine how greatful we are!!!) They have seen a drastic change since they were here the week before Thanksgiving. She started Namenda on 2/4±.
I am not sure what ADL's are.
I guess the attitude nothing ventured, nothing gained is how my husband and I are looking at it. Although, if the idea is to slow the disease, I am not so sure that if it were me, I would want the disease slowed at this point...
Thanks so much,
Jennifer
My MIL is still on Aricept and has just been placed on the Namenda as well. I beleive that they have a website. Do a search on the web, as that is what I have done several times.
Good luck!
Pat-
As you probably read above, my MIL is still on the Aricept. I am not sure what stage she is at. I would guess the late part of the middle stage. She has some trouble walking. She sort of reminds of a mentally ill person, with a slow shuffle? Anyway, her memory still surprises us sometimes, but overall, her short term is very poor. I guess my FIL observes her. He is on leave from work right now recovering from neck surgery. She has been complaining of headaches to him, but when I asked him if they were recent (since starting this new med.) he said that he did not know. Her appetite has slowed in the last week as well. Her sister and BIL are here from Ohio to take care of her while my FIL recovers. (You can't imagine how greatful we are!!!) They have seen a drastic change since they were here the week before Thanksgiving. She started Namenda on 2/4±.
I am not sure what ADL's are.
I guess the attitude nothing ventured, nothing gained is how my husband and I are looking at it. Although, if the idea is to slow the disease, I am not so sure that if it were me, I would want the disease slowed at this point...
Thanks so much,
Jennifer
camachinist
02-15-2004, 09:25 PM
I am not sure what ADL's are
Sorry....Activities of Daily Living....eg toileting, dressing, bathing, eating, etc.
Her stage of disease generally rests upon the ADL's she can still perform as well as on her general cognitive/memory ability, like how to speak, read, remember objects, people, etc.
IMO, the drugs now merely postpone the inevitable, but do serve an important purpose, that being to enhance the patient's quality of life while their brain continues to deteriorate, albeit at a possibly slower pace, in an otherwise healthy body. IOW, the drugs may allow them to enjoy moments in their life when they are otherwise healthy, so when their physical health goes, their decline and death won't be viewed as a long, slow demise trapped in a demented reality.
Proactive drugs are coming....we may be the first generation to actually be able to beat some of the dementing diseases if we live into our 80's. I certainly hope so. I wouldn't wish this scourge upon anyone.
Pat
Sorry....Activities of Daily Living....eg toileting, dressing, bathing, eating, etc.
Her stage of disease generally rests upon the ADL's she can still perform as well as on her general cognitive/memory ability, like how to speak, read, remember objects, people, etc.
IMO, the drugs now merely postpone the inevitable, but do serve an important purpose, that being to enhance the patient's quality of life while their brain continues to deteriorate, albeit at a possibly slower pace, in an otherwise healthy body. IOW, the drugs may allow them to enjoy moments in their life when they are otherwise healthy, so when their physical health goes, their decline and death won't be viewed as a long, slow demise trapped in a demented reality.
Proactive drugs are coming....we may be the first generation to actually be able to beat some of the dementing diseases if we live into our 80's. I certainly hope so. I wouldn't wish this scourge upon anyone.
Pat
GoldenRetrieverGirl
02-15-2004, 09:36 PM
I know that all dementias are different and are different for every person. That being said, she seems like she has more problems with functioning than most others at her mental decline point. She has that slow shuffle much of the time, she often cannot find her silverware in front of her, or tries to eat with her knife if she finds her silverware. She has trouble dressing, but can still get some clothes on. She has trouble finishing sentences sometimes and cannot remember words.
I don't know what to expect from this drug, although I have read the Namenda website. Also, she has vascular dementia, with maybe some Alzheimer's. I did not think that Namenda was for this type of dementia. I don't have any expectations for this drug. I would love to be surprised, but my heart says that what we see, is what we get.
Again, thanks so much,
Jennifer
I don't know what to expect from this drug, although I have read the Namenda website. Also, she has vascular dementia, with maybe some Alzheimer's. I did not think that Namenda was for this type of dementia. I don't have any expectations for this drug. I would love to be surprised, but my heart says that what we see, is what we get.
Again, thanks so much,
Jennifer
camachinist
02-15-2004, 09:55 PM
Namenda operates on a different part of brain chemistry from that of Aricept and generally should co-exist well, but every patient is different. At your MIL's level of ADL's, change should be noticeable within a month's time. Keep an eye out for unsteadiness, dizzyiness and somnolence. They should be transitory, if noted, but can be dangerous for the patient. My mom had an unrecoverable (she needed help) fall early in her Aricept titration and I expect I'll have to cover her care 24/7 if we start Namenda. She also has VD but no signs of AD yet. The key to this distinction is that she routinely forms new memory, less so during times of insomnia and/or stress. This awareness is the key to her being able to live independently with help.
I would suggest, time permitting, to keep a simple journal of what you observe with MIL over the next few weeks and go back and look at in the future. It's amazing what such documents will reveal.
Best wishes!
Pat
I would suggest, time permitting, to keep a simple journal of what you observe with MIL over the next few weeks and go back and look at in the future. It's amazing what such documents will reveal.
Best wishes!
Pat
flexfly
05-02-2004, 11:41 AM
My wife, who is 57 w/AZ, was put on this in January. Shortly after she went into depression. The Dr said maybe give her depression medicine. She seemed to come out of it w/o medicine, but her condition has steadily gotten worse. This medicine has done nothing good for her. If anything, it has sped up her AZ -- at least it appears so.
JudyA
05-05-2004, 12:51 AM
My mother was on Memantine about a year before it was FDA approved in the U.S. She did show some improvement. I guess the key is getting them on the drugs early in the disease for the drugs to really make a difference.
flexfly
06-14-2004, 05:42 PM
My wife (58) has been on this for 6 months and it hasn't made any difference. She continues a downward spiral.
SarahJR
06-14-2004, 09:58 PM
My mother started on Namenda approximately 40 days ago. I have not noticed a difference; however, it is early according to the doctor.
volgirl
06-16-2004, 07:53 PM
My mother started taking Namenda about two weeks ago. I can't see much difference in her activities, yet, but she is more alert, seems to be more aware of her surroundings, and is a little more active. Does anyone know how long it takes for the drug to take full effect, or does it vary with each patient? We are hoping for more improvement, and want to give this plenty of time to work. I will post any changes in her condition since others may be interested in this drug.
GoldenRetrieverGirl
06-16-2004, 10:05 PM
My MIL has now been on this medicine for 4 1/2 months. (I posted the original post the first week of February.) We have not noticed any improvement; she has continued her slow decline. She had a PET scan last month and the Dr.'s believe that she has AZ, not just the vascular dementia.
I sure hope that this drug works for someone's loved one...
Jennifer
I sure hope that this drug works for someone's loved one...
Jennifer
caringdaughter
08-14-2004, 03:13 AM
My mom has been on Namenda and Vitamin B12 since May 12th and her speech went from a slur to formed words. We left her on 5mg since when we tried to increase her to 10 mg she began showing more agitation and aggression in her behavior. She just moved into a new adult care home with my father and she has been fighting them every night and in the morning when it is time to get her changed. She is very brutal at times with the caregivers.
At this point I am looking at either stopping the namenda or trying to put her on another medicine (AMA or natural), to calm her anxiety and get her to relax more and stop hitting, etc. If anyone has any suggestions, I would appreciate them.....I know she is declining more as I see little things happening.
At this point I am looking at either stopping the namenda or trying to put her on another medicine (AMA or natural), to calm her anxiety and get her to relax more and stop hitting, etc. If anyone has any suggestions, I would appreciate them.....I know she is declining more as I see little things happening.
jeratboy
09-14-2004, 07:27 PM
My mother is on her third week of Namenda. 5mg to 10mg and now starting 15mg. 20mg next week. Her speech is somewhat better. Her Dr. said he has patients that show good improvement with their "5 minutes ago memory" after about 3 months. No side effects so far.
mbp
09-20-2004, 11:59 AM
Hi,
Just joined last night looking for info about namenda experiences.
My mother is 83 and is in a good assisted living residence but may be on the cusp to having to move to the long term care part of the retirement community. She has been on Aricept for a few years with a fairly slow, even decline. Moved to assisted living almost 2 yrs ago when my father became ill. He died a yr plus ago. She has grieved his loss immensely, slow to process changes but very aware of what's going on. Understands more than she can let on but is fading more and more rapidly of late.
Incontinence has been a problem for 2-3 years, first bowel but now bladder as well. She now needs help with all daily activities; she eats OK with some cueing (plate w/ food and fork in front of her) and can still walk around but sometimes needs help getting up. Neither agitation nor aggression have ever been a characteristic, but anxiety has.
We want to try nemanda in hopes of prolonging her stay in the assisted living center a/o enjoyment of any social contact but are afraid of a couple of bad results - e.g. no improvement in function but only increased awareness of all she's lost and is losing (Dad, toileting functions, possible move to the nursing home).
Would be thankful for any advice or additional related experiences.
Just joined last night looking for info about namenda experiences.
My mother is 83 and is in a good assisted living residence but may be on the cusp to having to move to the long term care part of the retirement community. She has been on Aricept for a few years with a fairly slow, even decline. Moved to assisted living almost 2 yrs ago when my father became ill. He died a yr plus ago. She has grieved his loss immensely, slow to process changes but very aware of what's going on. Understands more than she can let on but is fading more and more rapidly of late.
Incontinence has been a problem for 2-3 years, first bowel but now bladder as well. She now needs help with all daily activities; she eats OK with some cueing (plate w/ food and fork in front of her) and can still walk around but sometimes needs help getting up. Neither agitation nor aggression have ever been a characteristic, but anxiety has.
We want to try nemanda in hopes of prolonging her stay in the assisted living center a/o enjoyment of any social contact but are afraid of a couple of bad results - e.g. no improvement in function but only increased awareness of all she's lost and is losing (Dad, toileting functions, possible move to the nursing home).
Would be thankful for any advice or additional related experiences.
GoldenRetrieverGirl
10-03-2004, 12:05 AM
I don't have any advice, but you are definitely at the right site. This is a great board. I originally posted this thread, hoping for some earth shattering news, but not expecting it. My MIL has been on it (Namenda) since Feb 2004 and I don't know if it is working, but I wouldn't want to take her off it. She is also on Aricept and several other meds. Hopefully your mom is on an anti-anxiety med.
Good luck,
Jennifer
Good luck,
Jennifer