Understanding sundowning?

We are using Seroquel 100 mg and just added Mirtazapine before bed. We tried just Seroquel 50 mg and it was difficult at times to get him to take meds late just before bed so we considered maybe giving it to him with dinner which seemed to just make him drowsy sooner. At bedtime he didn't want to get up and go to bed. Now we've moved the Seroquel to bedtime and added the Mirtazapine hoping it will keep him down for 8 hours. I've sent his team an email asking for guidance and asking about a sleep aid.

Thanks

Please call your dads doctor and ask him if your father can take a sleeping pill and can he give him a prescription or should he take over the counter.

I have always said that my husband doesn't sundown. Recently it has been harder to get him to take his pills.

On the days he doesn't take 250 mg of magnesium and 1000 IU of vitamin D, he gets alert and agitated at bedtime. When he takes them regularly, bedtime is easier.

Dr. Google lists them both as home remedies for sundowning. Your results may vary.

Don't add any medications or supplements without consulting with his doctor.

My mom took Seroquel which worked great to calm the anxiety that came with her sundowning. It helped with her sleep too.

What about a good old sleeping pill before bed!!!

Sundowning has nothing to do with sleep patterns. It has to do with a time of day that Dementia symtoms seem to get worse. In the early stage the person may go all day seeming normal but then about the time the "Sun goes down"
, they show signs of agitation, forgetfulness. etc. In the later stages, its a time the symtoms worsen or are more agitated than usual. The symtoms maybe heightened. Some people experience it in loved ones late afternoon. Its called "Sundowning" because it usually happens that time of day. When the Sun goes down.

What your Dad is experiencing is like a child, they get days and nights mixed up. I think anyone living with a person suffering from Dementia, has that person getting up at least once during the night. My Mom it was at 3am thinking it was time to start a new day. I told her if its dark outside, not time to get up.

My mother has moderate dementia which has been an ongoing issue for many years now, although she was only diagnosed (at my insistence) in 2016. She hasn't slept well for YEARS! Many sleep issues DO come from dementia and brain related issues alone. Sometimes, their sleep cycles are fouled up and they get day/night mixed up. Sleeping all day and staying up all night, etc. In general, it's just dementia related, and mom's doc has been trying for YEARS to find remedies to get her to sleep and to keep her asleep all night. To no avail. She goes in cycles; a few good days, followed by a few very bad days. She'll say she's up all night, but I think she means she sleeps poorly.......nobody is literally 'up all night' or they'd be non-functional the next day.

If your dad is napping and sleeping most of the day, then that is likely a HUGE contributor to his poor sleep habits at night. Can your mom keep him awake and occupied during the day? That should help a lot...........but it's not always possible to actually DO! They love to sleep and to nap, which does disrupt their body clocks and create a mess for everyone. A routine is important to follow, as well as a bedtime ritual that doesn't change. Here is a link to some info on the subject & some tips as well: https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/treatments/for-sleep-changes

You can try Melatonin. My dad had good results with it. My mother takes a pain pill at 10 pm which does make her tired and help her to fall asleep initially. But nothing so far has worked to keep her asleep all night. And she does not nap much at all during the day. In fact, she prides herself on NEVER taking a nap, which isn't true.........she just likes to think so.

It's a difficult thing to deal with, I know. Wishing you and your mom the best of luck trying to find an answer!