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Transitions..... Medications for Behavioral Symptoms
Caregivers: Dementia | Last Active: Jul 30, 2022 | Replies (22)Comment receiving replies
need advice. my husband has had alzheimer's for all of 15 years. he is at home and now it is 24/7 care. recently his doctor prescribed seroquel for agitation and sleep but i see him more confused and anxious. sleep is better but daytimes are more challenging. what is a safe alternative to seroquel? we already listen to lots of music and do as much as possible without drugs. but i'm looking for something to calm him when nothing else will--without being dangerous.
any advice?
Replies to "need advice. my husband has had alzheimer's for all of 15 years. he is at home..."
Good morning @caregiverwife1 I am Scott and I was my wife's caregiver for just over 14 years.
I'd like to echo the earlier advice that you definitely check with your husband's doctor on his medications, suggestions, etc. For the last years, my wife was on a cocktail of over 8 medications and even that incredible combo never really alleviated her high levels of anxiety.
I also found you comment about music very interesting! In my wife's case music, TV, radio, etc. only made her anxiety worse so we resorted to silence for her. Again, in her case, the only auditory stimulation that didn't cause problems was when we'd talk. Strange how different human brains are! As my wife's neuro-oncologist said to us "we really don't understand all that much about the brain, and when it's broken we REALLY don't know how it works."
Strength, Courage, & Peace
One of the most calming things I have seen for my husband is a robotic pet! I have been amazed. My very intelligent husband loves his “Puppy” and will sit quietly, petting & talking to it. ( Even tries to feed it) It’s battery operated and wags its tail, pants, turns its head, blinks, & barks. He doesn’t like the barking, so I turn that feature off. Ours was provided through a grant via the local Area Agency on Aging. They are favorites according to the caregivers in our support group. Better than many medicines.
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Hello @caregiverwife1 and welcome to Connect. It sounds like you are an experienced caregiver as you say that your husband has had Alzheimer's for 15 years now.
I am sorry to hear of his increased anxiety recently. I'm sure that neither of you needs that. I see that @janet7 has given you a good suggestion to call his doctor, As you have mentioned the use of Seroquel is relatively new, perhaps the doctor can suggest an alternate med or even an additional med that will help with this daytime agitation.
I would also like to invite Julie, @billchitwood, to this conversation as she has been in contact with her husband's doctors to adjust meds just recently.
I certainly admire your use of non-medication treatments like music and I'm wondering if you would share other activities you have tried to reduce the symptoms of Alzheimers?