Start Aricept??

There are pros and cons to Aricept and so it is a highly personal decision.
Our geriatric specialist offered it but did not push it saying that the studies had not been done in patients over 80 and there were side effects. My husband is 84 .
I spoke with his adult children and with our family doctor and declined the drug.
His memory continues to gradually decrease so we don’t know if it would have made a difference.

My husband is also on Aricept. He is taking 10mg. He is having some vivid, scary nightmares. I am hoping this will subside soon as he just started the drug.
He just qualified for the infusion drugs. It is a big commitment, but he seems to be onboard with trying the treatment. Hang in there!

Thank you. Still under review. They had more questions, does he drive, handle finances (no) hygiene chores )yes) don’t know what they’re looking for.

Same here. I’ve decided to wait until after the holidays to try Aricept. As will give it a few weeks to see if it is more helpful than the risk. Thank you all for your input.

Here is a scientific study comparing the two drugs you all may find useful.. My husband uses the rivastigmine patch and has never had an adverse reaction.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16083542/

I feel the same way - I am usually in denial until my husband (75) does something that I can’t explain away ad I know he has a problem. It’s very hard to deal with!

@cnutt My husband was just diagnosed with moderate dementia, he is doing relatively well so I can understand the hesitation in putting him on Aricept or Namenda? I am feeling the same since he is also onLupron for his prostrate cancer.

My wife is 70, and was recently diagnosed with AD. She started on Donepezil in January on the half dose (5 mg) and had a few nights of vivid dreams, which then subsided. She started on the full dose, 10 mg after a month, and at first felt off-kilter, as she described it. That also subsided after a short time. It is now March and she is taking it daily and it does not seem to have any negative effect. Whether it is helping is still uncertain--but she thinks it is. She also was just found eligible for infusion treatment and her doc recommends Kinsula--says studies seem to indicate it might be more helpful for women. Now waiting to see if insurance approves, etc. Hoping for the best.

My husband has been on it for many years. He went on it at the same time as Namenda and did not have any noticeable bad side effects. I decided to go for it based on advice from several doctors and also based on anecdotal evidence of positive effects from my local support group. It is hard to know how he woudl have been without the medications, but he has early onset Alzheimer's, which normally is faster to evolve, and his progression was very gradual.

A year ago the doctors suggested stopping it and my husband did exhibit mood change at that, so we put him back on it.

@memoriestomoments , my dad experienced a similar reaction. (I posted about it upthread.) I’m not sure if my dad’s very slow progression was due to the meds or not. It was amazing how he maintained so much information and abilities for so long. The disease did eventually cause his death, but the severe state didn’t come until near the end.