1. < Caregivers: Dementia

Looking for other experiences with Aricept.

Posted by DanL @tunared, Apr 3, 2021

My wife is ending her 2nd month on Aricept (1 month on 5mm and 1 month on 10mm) and wants to stop it because of the (bad) dreams and hallucinations she has experienced. She has never had these problems before Aricept. Anyone else have bad experiences with Aricept? It does not appear to slow down her MCI decline. We meet with her Neurologist next week and will be discussing the problems with him. We are just interested in anyone else who experienced problems and did they continue with the drug or did they stop it.
We will also be asking the neurologist about the current study at the Geisel school (Dartmouth medical school) and the effectiveness of L-Serine.
All comments would be appreciated.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Caregivers: Dementia Support Group.

bonnie48 | @bonnie48 | Jan 28, 2023
In reply to @IndianaScott "Hello, @bonnie48 I'm Scott and while I'm not any kind of medical professional, I was one..." + (show)
@IndianaScott

Hello, @bonnie48 I'm Scott and while I'm not any kind of medical professional, I was one of my mother-in-law's caregivers during her fight with dementia. I was also my wife's caregiver during her war with brain cancer during which she had multiple dementia-mimicking symptoms. I also worked in the research department for the national Alzheimer's Association. I'm sure your partner's doctor knows far more about this than I do, but here is what I know.

From what I know of Aricept, it is not a long-lasting drug nor does it have universally similar effects for patients. I also recall it works to assist patients remain on a plateau and retard their future declines with their disease and isn't a curative drug. Therefore it would seem likely its effectiveness would decline over time.

Especially with my wife, I kept a journal so I could track her medicines, dosages, and changes in her daily activities, mood, etc., and reported those to her medical team. Over her journey, her medications were adjusted dozens of times.

Some of the symptoms you describe also seem to be similar to those of other patients with advancing dementia.

How long ago was your partner diagnosed?

Strength, Courage, & Peace

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Scott, thanks for the hug!

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janet7 | @janet7 | Jan 28, 2023
In reply to @bonnie48 "Hi Dan, I was educated as a memory researcher & teacher, & had also concluded that..." + (show)
@bonnie48

Hi Dan,
I was educated as a memory researcher & teacher, & had also concluded that the new drugs being advertised & sold for lots of money may be no more effective than the older ones our partners are taking. One of the hardest things about dementia is accepting that my partner won’t get better. I hear or read the words, think I understand, but my heart doesn’t truly take in the message.

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Your comment about your partner not getting better is so profound. I don’t think I have begun to believe this and accept it in my heart either. I guess I am not ready to face reality yet and therefore the denial.

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