Anti-depressants for dementia?

Safety and comfort. If she is in a SNF, is diagnosed as having advanced dementia, and has had negative behavior changes, ask yourself what is more important to her? Your concerns about “allegations”, “cries a lot” “gets verbally aggressive”, “sounded very tired and lethargic”, seem to reveal an expectation on your part, about what her optimum behavior level can and should be.

Assuming that other concerns, including UTI and/or other infection, neurological changes, perhaps recent environmental differences in facility, what do you want for her, given the fact that she has been diagnosed with a progressive, global neurological condition?

If given the choice of being agitated, tearful, and uncomfortable OR peaceful but more quiet, which choice do you think she would make? What does the care staff say?

Whether given medications to make her safer and more peaceful or not, she will decline, sometimes rapidly, sometimes over a longer course of time. That is a tragic fact which we must all accept as we care for those whom we love who have dementia.

Your concerns are thoughtful and loving, and with them, if you will consider objectively what is the best you can do for her, even when neither choice is what you’d hope for, you’re likely to find peace for her and hopefully, for yourself.

Good luck, however you decide.

With all drugs and "drug cocktails" it is more what the affect is on the person him or herself. Everyone reacts differently. If you are looking at side effects then you will see 1,000 things, which may or may not happen. She is likely tired on the drugs, especially the ativan, and especially at first. They may add to decline, or lack of interest, but the truth is that while she was wide awake she was suffering a lot. Why not wait a few weeks and see how this goes. If you are POA for healthcare then you can call and discuss if you are getting messages such as "Oh, Grandma is sleeping; she can't speak on phone" too often. You will know more in a few weeks. Good luck.

Sometimes it takes a week (or a few) for the body to become accustomed to new medications, hopefully the side effects of your mother's meds will lessen over time.

For me, it was more important to try meds that would keep mom unagitated, unanxious and calm than to worry about her being drugged. It made sense to me that the docs started on a low dose and worked up to a therapeutic dose for just this reason, to see what worked and exactly how much was needed.

Being agitated, depressed, anxious and paranoid is exhausting. Consider that gma's current lethargy might be, not a reaction to the meds, but exhaustion from her former agitation.

I have experienced crushing depressions in my life and antidepressants enabled me to climb out of the hole each time.

I am curious what you've read that makes you think that antidepressants would decrease gma's mobility or alertness.

Neither of these medications is an antidepressant.

Donepezil (generic of Aricept)is a medication that in some cases slows the progress of dementia. Ativan is an anti anxiety agent.

Have you spoken to the psych doctore directly?

My mother, with vascular dementia, did well, was calm but not lethargic on low doses of Lexapro and Remeron (both antidepressants) and klonopin (an anti-anxiety med).