My husband has lewy body dementia and his neurologist suggested he take paxil. Can paxil be a risky prescription?
Any one have experience with this? I tend to think the neurologist knows what she is prescribing but on line reading suggests that this can be a risky prescription.He is reluctant to based on his reading.
No, I would not feel better if the Rx was a psychiatrist. A good neurologist, who relies on brain imaging and blood chemistry is your best bet. What you want to look for is an improvement in function without activating manic behavior. If the SSRI does not relieve anxiety, then an anxiolytic is added to the mix. Slow increases are better than sudden increases in medication. Also realize the medication takes a few weeks to stabilize his serotonin levels.
I hope others here who are familiar with this medication and this type of dementia will chime in. Is there anything in particular that bothers you and your husband about it? Would you feel better if a psychiatrist prescribed it? You could get a second opinion.
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What you want to look for is an improvement in function without activating manic behavior. If the SSRI does not relieve anxiety, then an anxiolytic is added to the mix. Slow increases are better than sudden increases in medication. Also realize the medication takes a few weeks to stabilize his serotonin levels.
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