Namenda/Dementia
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enjoys freebies · Sun Apr 02, 2006 1:03 pm Quote

Hi, all-

I've sad news. My dad has been diagnosed with dementia, not Alzheimer's per se, but bad enough. I'm not sure what this means because the docs are being very tight lipped, which is frustrating. They've prescribed Namenda for him.

My Q is, in case the Namenda doesn't do well with him, can you just stop taking it, or must you taper off? And what might be the side effects of just stopping cold turkey?

Thanks.

T

enjoys freebies · Sun Apr 02, 2006 2:12 pm Quote

I'm so sorry to hear your sad news. I don't know the answer to your question, but I hope that the doctors are able to find something to help your dad.

I know things like this can be very hard on the family, so I want to send you and your family my best wishes... Smile

enjoys freebies · Mon Apr 03, 2006 11:08 am Quote

Hi TooInvolved - I'm so sorry to hear about your father. I went through dementia with my mother during the last four years of her life and it's quite draining and challenging. I hope your family can cope with the frustration of this disease. You'll need to muster up as must patience as possible, and always remember that your father can't help his behavior, that it's the disease causing the changes you're witnessing. He'll repeat himself more frequently, forget what he's been told more quickly, and become very insecure and worried about normal things that occur in daily life that he could take for granted in the past. He may resent that tasks like banking, driving, cooking, etc., are no longer safe for him to perform.

As far as I know, most drugs prescribed to slow mental decline of dementia patients are not habit-forming. Also, they don't help everyone. Don't expect miracles or long-term help from them, either. Sometimes the side effects like dizziness and constipation aren't worth the small benefit that some patients experience. Nevertheless, you should at least give your father's physician a call before stopping the drug as any side effects are, in general, probably worth reporting. It's been my experience that physicians can be even more "tight-lipped" as you describe, when dealing with chronically unresponsive and/or terminal conditions. Dementia is progressive and incurable, and I suppose the frustration and futility that doctors feel when faced with conditions such as this explains their behavior. I hope your family and loved ones can help each other through this, and my heart goes out to you.

Tue Apr 04, 2006 2:32 am Quote

I have no advice to offer but I am sorry to hear your news.

There are many support and information sites about Dementia, perhaps you might be able to find some information about the drug there? if not, and if the doctors are still not willing to explain things, try posting on the appropriate news groups on Google News - there are lots of illness specific news groups that are meant as a means of support for patients (and their families).

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