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valium and alzheimers
My husband is diagnosed with MCI due to early Alzheimer's. He recently took 1 valium before an MRI because he gets claustrophobic in that enclosed space. The next day he became terribly confused not knowing I was his wife and thinking our house was not his home. This is just bizarre, almost like a nightmare. His doctor said it was probably from the valium and also the fact that we went out of town the next day and he became confused as to where he lived. My husband has memory issues and confusion due to the memory problems, but he is still driving locally, going golfing, etc. This is like someone flipped a switch. Has anyone else experienced something happen like this if the person you care for had a valium? Will this get better? It's been slightly over a week and some parts of the day are fine, but others are not. Thank you for your help.
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I haven't used valium for my husband's MCI, but when I saw your post I was curious.
On helpdementia.com the article on "Is Valium Safe for People with Alzheimer’s Disease?" Excerpts from what I just read follow:
The short answer is that Valium and other benzodiazepines are generally not considered the first choice for treating anxiety or agitation in people with Alzheimer’s disease, and they come with significant risks, especially in older adults.
### Risks of Valium in Alzheimer’s Patients
– **Increased Confusion and Memory Problems:** Valium can make confusion and memory problems worse in people with Alzheimer’s. This is because the drug slows down brain activity, which can further impair thinking and memory in someone whose brain is already affected by dementia[4].
– **Higher Risk of Falls and Injuries:** Older adults, including those with Alzheimer’s, are more sensitive to the sedating effects of Valium. Even small doses can cause drowsiness, loss of balance, and an increased risk of falls, which can lead to broken bones or other serious injuries[6].
– **Paradoxical Reactions:** Sometimes, instead of calming a person, Valium can have the opposite effect, causing increased agitation, aggression, or confusion. This is more common in the elderly and people with brain disorders like Alzheimer’s[6].
– **Long-Term Risks:** There is evidence that long-term use of benzodiazepines like Valium may increase the risk of developing dementia or make existing dementia worse[4][6].
– **Withdrawal and Dependence:** Stopping Valium suddenly can cause withdrawal symptoms, including increased anxiety, agitation, and even seizures. This is especially risky in people with Alzheimer’s, who may not be able to communicate how they are feeling[8].
Goggle the rest of the article. You may get some interesting things from it, that you can talk to his doctor about for alternatives when he does those closed in MRI's. Best, Karla
Thank you, Karla. He is finally doing a bit better today. I hope he continues to improve back to his more normal confused self. I will have to find some alternative the next time he has an MRI. That was really scary. We are participating in a study for a new Alzheimer's drug called buntanetap and he has to have a total of 3 MRI's as part of the study. The next one isn't for 6 months so we have some time. Thanks again for your help.