Mom is 92, in NH and has probably mid or mid/late stage dementia. She was on aricept for 8 years living independently until emergency surgery caused a rapid decline into rehab and NH. A few fainting type episodes 6 months ago promped her DR to take her off the aricept (and BP meds) to try to stabilize the heart rate which now is fine. She is experiencing sundowners now and is going through what seem to be cycles of “normalcy” for a few days, then high anxiety and agitation (happy, not mean, but seems to be back at work in the office) for 24 hours then sleep/naps for a couple of days, then back to “normal” for a week or 2. At the advice of the nursing staff who are used to this type of behavior, we are putting her on a low dose 7.5 mg time release dose of Namenda. She has kidney issues that must be watched closely, but her lab work just came back and the Dr says as long as we watch the kidney tests closely, she’s healthier than I am. My question for those whose loved ones are on this drug, did it seem to help with the sun downing or dementia, and are there any side effects that I should watch for? DR says we can discontinue it if it seems to be having ill effects. How long should I give it for potential side effects to show? She just started on it yesterday. Thanks!
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My Mom took it for 2 years in which I saw it causing her fatigue and listlessness. There was no memory improvement. I had the doctor take her off of it and her energy came back.
The interesting thing which I found out from a pharmaceutical sales person for Namenda was that by itself, this very expensive drug does not do anything for memory. It must be taken along with Aricept....a drug which my Mom could not take due to heart and B/P issues. So, lo and behold, Namenda was not doing Mom any good in relation to memory or anxiety, and was only affecting her pocket book.
Day 2 (yesterday) found her a little more tired than usual. But also her conversations were a little more insiteful than usual, even asking the aides to help her go to the bathroom, and apoplgized to them that she needed help. Even playfully called me a “cheeky wee bisim” and remembered gran used to call me that. Probably way too early for it to have been med related so I’m trying not to read anything into it, but I thought it was unusual.
I’m sure that someone here will post about other medications they have seen used for your mother’s symptoms. Good luck!