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Does medication for anger work for people living with dementia?
Can anyone tell me if the medication for anger issues with a dementia patient actually work?
My wife erupts at even the smallest issue in a way that concerns me greatly. We have been married for 54 years and in the 2 years since her diagnosis her personality has taken a 180 degree turn. I'm hoping there is something that can help.
Thanks
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@pchap
Just curious if your wife is taking Keppra.
Take care,
Jake
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1 Reaction@jakedduck1
No.
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1 ReactionMy Mom takes a few things, seroquel is one of them that is supposed to help. But she also has severe sundowners making it worse. It might depend on cause. Mom has Lewy Body and lots of fluctuations. Now in very late stage so sometimes anger is from unexpressed physical pain. She's on pain meds and these have decreased her outbursts. Hope you find something to help.
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2 Reactions@pchap, you might find these related discussions helpful:
- My mom has Alzheimer’s. Is it possible to control her anger?https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/my-mom-has-alzheimers-is-it-possible-to-control-her-anger/
- My father is increasingly verbally abusive to my mother: What to do?https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/my-father-is-increasingly-verbally-abusive-to-my-mother-what-to-do/
- Klonopin usage for anger outbursts? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/klonopin-usage-for-anger-outbursts/
See all https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/caregivers-dementia/
A drastic and uncharacteristic change in behavior is so hard, making your loved one unrecognizable. When her anger is directed at you because you're the one who is around, it's just unfair. How do you manage or defect her anger?
@tracidw The FDA has a black box warning against using Seroquel for Alzheimer / Dementia patients. It can cause increased agitation, strokes, etc. Please look into this and consider stopping that prescription.
My LO was recently in the hospital (an excellent Boston-area hospital). By day 2, my LO's anxiety was off the charts and she was much weaker and unable to manage routine tasks. She also has severe sundowners. I had suspected there was an issue with Seroquel, researched it, and called the hospital to order the dosage stopped immediately. My LO was better the following day and increasingly better since.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/quetiapine-oral-route/description/drg-20066912
@trishcnwma Thanks so much! I'll write her hospice nurse now. I appreciate the info!!!
@tracidw If she's been on Seroquel for a while, she'll need to be weaned off of it carefully.
I was able to stop it immediately because my sister had received only a few small doses. She takes Sertraline 25 MG which was just changed from 1x daily to 2x daily.
@tracidw My husband takes saraquel for sundowning. I usually can tell when it will be worse as he starts talking about going to where he grew up and meet his buddies. Of course he doesn't drive and has talked to no one. I have learned to go along with it and give him 1/2 of a seraquel and it seems to calm his mind. I used to argue about him going anywhere-- now I agree to take him but we have gotten in the car and I go every where he wants and he realizes it is his delusional state and wants to go home. So usually he says maybe tomorrow and I go along. I also, use a white board so he knows are schedule.
@lulululu It sounds like you've found some helpful ways to adapt. It sure is a learning journey, right? I learned that going along is the best thing. Mom is unable to problem solve or distinguish reality from 'dementia'. I used to use a dry-erase board for Mom and it helped. I'm glad your husband can still read, that's a positive.