what would happen if alzheimer was left untreated

[angel_bear]

If you knew for sure they had it, and took no medications for it ...... they will do exactly what they're doing now .. slowly (or rapidly, depending on the dementia) deteriorating.

You will find that most people are on SOME kind of medication for SOMETHING. Blood pressure pills, fluid pills, thyroid pills, cholesterol pills, you name it, there's a pill for it .. if there isnt' a pill, there's a potion, and if in doubt, an injection.

THESE pills & potions keep people alive, probably for longer than they should be.

Typically, Alzheimers or any kind of dementia is usually left untreated, except in the early/mid stages with the options of aricept, namenda etc, which only puts of the inevitable.

Bit sad eh?

[TexasCookie]

From what I understand insurance might stop paying on meds for Alzheimer's because there is no real proof that they do any good. Just passing on what a doctor told me a few years ago.

[ronmac]

My dad is on Namenda and Aricept. He is probably in the late middle stages. He no longer recognizes anyone. However, he can feed himself most of the time and he is goes to the restroom with assistance and reminders. He gets choked on his food...

Anyway, a few months ago he was hospitalized and the doctor decided to take dad off of the namenda and aricept because he was in the later stages. (He was hospitalized due to aspirations.) Dad digressed to the point where he was no longer able to walk on his own. He looked as if he did not know how to put one foot in front of the other. After placing him back on the medications, he returned to his previous level.

My dad is also on medication for hallucinations which he definitely cannot do without. I wish he could do without some of the meds because we never know if his sleeping all the time comes from the meds or the disease.

[rekem]

It appears that many meds given to Dementia patients - will cause drowsiness. Namenda does, so does Risperdal (anti-psychotic) and Depakote (mood stabilizer). If the person is in a nursing home they will most likely want the patient to be almost comatose in order to lessen the amount of care necessary and to improve the bottom line.
My spouse was on 11 different meds when she came out of the hospital and into a NH - She could walk and talk and do simple chores before - now she just resides in a chair or bed - even after I was able to get the physician to stop five of her meds and now getting rid of the sixth - Haldol - and I'll keep trying to decrease or end the others (per discussions with an non-affiliated physician) irregardless of what the NH wants.
Just get a list of the meds and check their respective websites and I'm sure you'll understand why many patients appear to be in a stupor. Do all the meds help the demented patient - my opinion is negative - they just make a 'long journey' longer.

[ibake&pray]

rekem,

I'm sorry that you have had such a negative experience with NH. The one where my parents were was the exact opposite. They perfered to keep their residents on as few medicines as possible. The nurses activly fought to keep them as lightly medicated as they could. They told me it might mean extra work, but it was quality of life that they were trying to preserve for their residents as long as possible. I admired that and knew that it was difficult to do with some of the residents.....