When do you give up the medications?

Hi Avalon. Recently I asked the same question about my moms dementia meds. You can do a search on my name to see the responses I received. I did decide to take my mom off her meds (Namenda and Galatamine) . She is 83, late stage dementia diagnosed four years ago. Relatively healthy, still walks about and interacts with others although she is often tuned into her own world. She has delusions quite often. I was glad to get time with mom while she was still tuned in but as time has passed she is more internal. The meds no longer give her any clarity. Now, Sometimes she reconizes me and will spend time with me during visits but after about a half hour she becomes distracted and wants to move about. So, I take what I can get on her good days and let her go on the other days.

Some medications you discontinue when they have done their job and the condition is cured.

Some medication you discontinue when you realize they are not doing their job and you need to try something else.

Some medication you discontinue when you realize the side-effects are not worth the benefits.

Some medications you discontinue when their goal is no longer applicable. This is often the case when someone goes on hospice.

Some medications you continue forever. Pam's example of pain medication is a good one. If the source of the pain goes away the med may be discontinued, but as long as the chance of pain exists you probably stay on that med.

Another example of a medication you don't "give up" is one that is treating psychic pain. An anti-anxiety med may be continued indefinitely, for example.

There are many reasons for discontinuing medications. It is a case-by-case decision.

For more specific comments perhaps you could provide more details about the situation.

Which medications? Pain relief is never given up.