She had bad side effects from Aricept &she is a very anxious woman by nature. I objected stating that the twice a day dosing would be difficult we set up her am meds & call her every day & that works) & then he started trying to get me to buy some fancy automatic pill dispenser. I wonder if it isn't broke & the Namenda won't improve anything is it worth changing her routine? Also, the SE of agitation, depression & anxiety concern me. I don't like to go against a Dr's recommendations but was not impressed with his presentation or his lack of good answers to my questions (he's a Neurologist not her primary MD).
Could you set up this second dose in a different colored pills box, and call to remind her about that each day? Could the agency help see about this dose? Would insurance cover that expensive pill dispenser? (My mother just had one set up for her. So far so good.)
Dementia is such a tragic and heartbreaking disease I really hate to see something that MIGHT help not being tried because it is inconvenient. As you saw with Aricept, there are no guarantees. A drug that works well for countless people can be ineffective or have harsh side effects for others.
I'd follow the doctor's orders.