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Suggest Treatment For Severe Dementia
Question: My mom has severe dementia and is seeing 3 different doctors. Two prescribe meds and communicate with each other, or so I am told. How is the best way to get an evaluation of her medications without it being cost prohibitive? I want to be sure her meds are not further complicating her condition or at least the symptoms.
Brief Answer:
If medications help in controlling the condition, therapy necessary.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for asking.
I am Dr. Prakash HM and I will be answering your query.
Based on your query, my opinion is as follows:
1. For severe dementia, medications is necessary to preserve function and autonomy for as long as possible and to maintain quality of life both for patient and care giver.
2. As she is suffering from severe dementia, she might be suffering from problem behavior like agitation, hallucination, depression, etc. Strategies like music therapy, out door walks, pets, and bright light exposure could help in agitation.
3. Controlling of the symptoms is the aim of medications. If it is helping here improve the symptoms in question without causing any complications - maybe dizziness, excessive sleep, dry mouth, etc - they she needs to continue therapy.
4. For cost, if no insurance cover, generic medications may be tried. You will have to discuss with your doctor regarding this.
5. Caretaker support, all round the clock is necessary in severe dementia.
Hope it helps.
Any further queries, here to help again.
Dr. Prakash HM
If medications help in controlling the condition, therapy necessary.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for asking.
I am Dr. Prakash HM and I will be answering your query.
Based on your query, my opinion is as follows:
1. For severe dementia, medications is necessary to preserve function and autonomy for as long as possible and to maintain quality of life both for patient and care giver.
2. As she is suffering from severe dementia, she might be suffering from problem behavior like agitation, hallucination, depression, etc. Strategies like music therapy, out door walks, pets, and bright light exposure could help in agitation.
3. Controlling of the symptoms is the aim of medications. If it is helping here improve the symptoms in question without causing any complications - maybe dizziness, excessive sleep, dry mouth, etc - they she needs to continue therapy.
4. For cost, if no insurance cover, generic medications may be tried. You will have to discuss with your doctor regarding this.
5. Caretaker support, all round the clock is necessary in severe dementia.
Hope it helps.
Any further queries, here to help again.
Dr. Prakash HM
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Myom takes Exelon, Seroquel,Namenda, lexapro, Xanax, plus other meds for blood pressure, cholesterol, heart valve disease and arrythmia problems. Some days she is so sleepy and tired after sleeping all night and previous day. Then she may have three days and nights in a row without sleeping. Is this likely to be dementia related, or drugs? Do I need to have an independent evaluation of her drugs? Any suggestions.?
By the way, thanks for your suggestions in the original reply. I will try those things.
By the way, thanks for your suggestions in the original reply. I will try those things.
Brief Answer:
Multiple medications - increased sedation along with on & off periods.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for asking again.
I went through the list of medications provided.
She is on multiple anti-depressants and anxiolytics, which can cause increased sedation. Also anti-dementia medications can cause, similar effects.
This could be the cause for excessive tiredness.
Dementia, will have on and off days. So, this variation is common. However, try to keep the surrounding environment, the same. No change in conditions, surrounding here and regular sleeping hours and having activity regularly as a time schedule will help her in keeping it right.
It is a complex combination of both dementia and drugs and difficult to pinpoint either. Unless it is causing the caretaker or herself any significant problems, not to worry.
Independent evaluation of drugs, may be done. However, It is difficult, as possibly only one medication (seroquel or lexapro) might be stopped or changed. Others are necessary to keep her functioning well in the present scenario. First, try to keep everything constant, then despite this, if she is troubled, then evaluation maybe done.
Hope it helps.
Any further queries, here to help again.
If you do not have any further queries, you can close the discussion and rate the answer.
Dr. Prakash HM
Multiple medications - increased sedation along with on & off periods.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for asking again.
I went through the list of medications provided.
She is on multiple anti-depressants and anxiolytics, which can cause increased sedation. Also anti-dementia medications can cause, similar effects.
This could be the cause for excessive tiredness.
Dementia, will have on and off days. So, this variation is common. However, try to keep the surrounding environment, the same. No change in conditions, surrounding here and regular sleeping hours and having activity regularly as a time schedule will help her in keeping it right.
It is a complex combination of both dementia and drugs and difficult to pinpoint either. Unless it is causing the caretaker or herself any significant problems, not to worry.
Independent evaluation of drugs, may be done. However, It is difficult, as possibly only one medication (seroquel or lexapro) might be stopped or changed. Others are necessary to keep her functioning well in the present scenario. First, try to keep everything constant, then despite this, if she is troubled, then evaluation maybe done.
Hope it helps.
Any further queries, here to help again.
If you do not have any further queries, you can close the discussion and rate the answer.
Dr. Prakash HM
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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