My dad's doctor asked if we wanted to keep him on the medicines he is currently taking for his dementia & alzheimer's. Is this standard procedure? I was shocked and all I could say was, "well I guess so, unless something new has come out." I know there is no cure and that these medications are just to help slow the progression, but is this doctor asking if we want to speed up the process of this disease?
However, you see you dad every day, so you have a better idea if the medicine helps. If you don't think it is helping, it would be good to wean him off the medicine. It would be one less drug that his body and caregivers had to deal with. No point in keeping it up if it isn't helping.
At some point, these drugs stop working for a patient. Taking them off this medication does not mean that the disease speeds up. The disease has never slowed...only the presentation of symptoms has been masked. Instead you are being asked would you like to stop these medications and therefore stop their side effects...or do you perceive that they are still beneficial. Only someone who knows and spends time at length with the patient could decide if they think the meds are still helping to mask the symptoms. If they aren't, its best to stop...so that you don't have to deal with the side effects.
Angel