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I saw your comments on Aricept. I am a patient diagnosed 5yrs ago with Early Onset ALZ. My most recent Neuropsych Exam, says I am now in Moderate-Severe Dementia. I was put on Aricept the day I received the diagnosis. My Neuro Doctor told me it could take 3-6mos before I noticed and difference and it was almost 6mos to the day. Yes diarrhea is an issue. I found that by eating about 1/8 of a jar of Honey Roasted Peanuts just before sleeping have reduced diarrhea by about 80% of my days are pretty good, very little diarrhea. I had a lot of trouble reading when I hit the 6mo point, I was able to continue reading at my regular pace, but I could not remember what I read the next morning. I concluded, Aricept allowed me to focus better on what I was doing. I couldn't remember much of what I'd read, but I enjoy it and Aricept allows me to do that. I am also taking Donepezil and Memantine.
Yes, I know I'm declining however the above mentioned drugs used together has allowed me to continue traveling with my family and doing other activities, like volunteer work and getting my hands dirty. I gave up driving 18mos ago of my own volition. I walked in to the DMV and they didn't know what to do with me. They told me we only see people sent here to surrender their license by the Courts or their Doctors.
No these drugs do not offer a cure, but I'm convinced I've been able to cram a lot in to these last 5 yrs with no doubt I've had a ball. I hope many more of us can benefit from what I've learned walking my journey.
I agree with most of the advice already stated.
Facing the situation will remove uncertainty and give you information you need.
It's important to consider all social, psychological amd medical factors that can contribute to your situation.
Antidepressants are important tools for those who need them and like all medicines do have various side effects, so pros and cons muat be weighed and if with research and medical guidance it is determined the meds are a factor, it is important to devise and follow a plan of action with your psychiatrist.
Note: If you haven't already, consider talking with a psychiatrist about possible effects of the medicine because they have deeper knowledge of various conditions and the medicines and dosages available to treat them.
If you are only seeing GP for the depression you could be missing out on a lot.
Aricept may help if you are diagnosed with Alzheimer's.
Now that many of our resident "medical experts" have demonized antidepressants for the millionth time, I'd like to say they're a LIFE SAVER for those in need of them. Antidepressants are a game changer and not some new age LSD that's going to dissolve your brains into fried grits. Continuing to attach stigmas to mental health issues, as we constantly see here, creates fear about asking for and getting help when we truly need it. Fear of developing dementia or Alzheimer's, fear of being called Crazy or being laughed at or ridiculed by our peers. Suggesting you wean yourself off of your medication because it's causing your dementia like symptoms is a horrible and dangerous thing to say! Please ignore such advice and only follow your DOCTOR'S orders with everything you do moving forward. The internet is rife with differing opinions and you know what they say about opinions.
Wishing you the best of luck with your testing and a good outcome with the results.
Husband was given Arricept (evil as far as we are concerned). After 2 weeks of pure hell and having DR say it couldn't do that - (started day after beginning medication). took him off of it, quick scared Wake-up moment and he came out of crazed state. Turned out he had Normal Pressure Hydrocephelus(Spelling). After shunt surgery he was much improved.
Get with your Dr. Be sure to note when symptoms started, when drugs started, etc.
Also, good advice - arrange for possible care needs now (financial and physical).While you can make your own decisions.
Ignoring the situation will NOT make it go away. Surely, you want to know "what you are dealing with" - yes?
BTW - I am a former psychiatric nurse. Please do NOT stop your anti-depressive medication(S) unless your GP advises it; doing so might make things much worse.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6079596/
Doctors will never blame the meds. They will put you on more meds which can cause more complications.
I am now 76. I requested a more comprehensive test. I forget things, a lot now. I passed with flying colors but the professional doing the test said she felt I had “a major depressive disorder”. And wanted to prescribe meds. I refused.
I refused because she hadn’t asked a lot of pertinent questions.
Before I went to see her I had several deaths close to me. I told her I had just lost my best friend, husband and son, as well as several close friends, and while I knew I had some depression they were as far as I was concerned more “situational” than the symptoms of a disorder.
I feel rather strongly about these meds being prescribed when we are older: seen it. Docs are too quick to put us on meds that make us worse. Black box warnings about
cognitive changes in the elderly are common.
I am glad I took the test. I am a cancer survivor and knew some of my issues are related to the cancer treatment. Read: chemo brain. Fatigue. Etc.
Best of luck. But be your own advocate. Research everything.
I think that is a waste of time and can cause increased anxiety.
If it is not to late ask your doctor for the name of a Neuropsychologist or neurologist that he/she works with and set up an appointment with them.
I write from the perspective of one who is now in Moderate to Severe level of ALZ. I was diagnosed 5 yrs ago with Early onset ALZ. The first mistake I made was not having a family member with me when the Neuropsych Exam was given. I wasn't told, I should have someone with me. I also got the follow up appointment and really wish I had someone with me. The Doctor said to me he was uncomfortable with me driving. My Neuro Doctor, told me when she saw the report that I still wasn't at the point where I shouldn't drive. Neurologically I was fine, and that we'd keep having the talk at each follow up appointment. Last year just as the lockdown for COVID 19 was happening, I came home from doing my errands, and I said to my DW it was time to hang up the keys. I wasn't able to surrender my license until August because it took 5 mos to get an appointment with the DMV to surrender it. Now, I haven't been behind the wheel in 17 mos., and I have never said, I wish I could drive since. When I had my most recent Neuropsych exam my DW was with me for both appointments.
When you are making bad decisions by driving it is time to hang up the keys.
I would suggest you have a have a Neuropsych Exam and after you have the results, if you are diagnosed with ALZ or another Dementia start having a discussions with your family about, what you want for treatment and don't want.
We all walk on a different journey, everyone is not the same. I was 57 when I was diagnosed, I was 61 when I turned in the keys and have no idea where they are.
I would engage with your Doctor and put together a Care Plan focusing on your needs. We all walk along the same trail, but have a different journey. I would get in touch with the ALZ Association and check in to a Local Caregivers Program for your family. Where I live, there is a group called the Forgetful Friends, Our group is unusual in that they allow Patients to be a part of the group and all Caregivers and Patients discuss their particular journey. I also began reading about Dementia on Agingcare and then after a month or so, I began replying to questions posed. I hope you find my comments of benefit to you. I'll remember you in my prayers. God Bless you.
The doctor is trying to discover what is causing your problems. Early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease and early medication can "sharpen" your memory considerably. Early diagnosis and early medication can help with Parkinson's disease. Evaluation and treatment of micro strokes caused by clots with mild blood thinning medication can halt further insults. This will only happen with evaluation by a qualified doctor - the sooner, the better.
We are not their doctor.
Any medication discontinuance should be made under a doctor’s care, especially in the case of an antidepressant. We must not, nor are we qualified here, make any determinations about someone’s mental health.
If your friends, doctor have noticed things, and you have as well there may be cause for concern BUT you now get to plan what you will do, what you want done and how you will decide what your next steps will be.
Schedule an appointment with an Elder Care Attorney no matter what the results of any testing are. The same paperwork is important no matter what the outcome.
Discuss with the doctor the probability that any medications you are on might be contributing to problems you might be having
((hugs)) and 🤞🙏
Hope all goes well and keep us posted.
Do you have a spouse or adult child you could delegate things at home to if needed as well?
I'm thinking it would be good to have a few trusted helpers on standby.
So if you wanted to reduce stress - work less hours or do different duties - you could.
Until you work this thing out.
Best thoughts to you.
I recommend you see an attorney specializes in Elder care. You need to appoint someone(s) you trust to be your Power of Attorney to handle you finance and make medical decisions for you if/when you can't do those for yourself.
If you don't already have these done, you urgently need to make arrangements on who will step in/take over for you regarding your business, assets, etc. You also need to have your wishes written down as to what you want regarding your health such as DNR, feeding tubes, life support, etc.
Do these while you still can think and make decisions for yourself. Otherwise, someone else will, when time comes, decide for you and they may not make the choices that you would want.
Again, I am so sorry you're facing this.