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Suggest Treatment For Dementia
My 90 year mother is suffering from Dementia and she us all confused especially at night. She can t relax and she gets paranoid and wants to leave the house to go find her husband that she thinks she is still alive. He passed away 8 years ago. What can I give her to help her sleep and relax. Daytime she is not too bad. Only at night she starts and she won t understand anything we tell her. The medication we tried is not helping.
posted on
Sat, 18 Mar 2017
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Mon, 26 Mar 2018
Answered on
Tue, 27 Mar 2018
Last reviewed on
Hello,
First, this is dementia with superimposed delirium. I will not be able to tell you what type of dementia with the given information.
As such, the sleeping medications are not going to help. If anything, they are going to make the delirium worse. So, please refrain from giving them.
Other than that, make sure she is in her normal environment as much as possible. If not present, put a watch in her room. And make sure there is always light in her room.
As for the diurnal variation, I think she is sleeping more during the day. So, give it your best efforts to keep her awake in the daytime- give her activities that she is/was fond of doing during the day.
She does seem to have some component of paranoia. She would need anti psychotics like Quetiapine. However, I would recommend taking the medicine by a prescription of a certified psychiatrist only.
Last but not the least- she is in delirium. She is not trying to cause you trouble. She is not listening to you because she is in delirium- in her mind and memory her husband is probably alive and since he is not around she will want to go look for him. So try to be patient with her. it might help to understand her as much as it is important that she understands you.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Saumya Mittal
First, this is dementia with superimposed delirium. I will not be able to tell you what type of dementia with the given information.
As such, the sleeping medications are not going to help. If anything, they are going to make the delirium worse. So, please refrain from giving them.
Other than that, make sure she is in her normal environment as much as possible. If not present, put a watch in her room. And make sure there is always light in her room.
As for the diurnal variation, I think she is sleeping more during the day. So, give it your best efforts to keep her awake in the daytime- give her activities that she is/was fond of doing during the day.
She does seem to have some component of paranoia. She would need anti psychotics like Quetiapine. However, I would recommend taking the medicine by a prescription of a certified psychiatrist only.
Last but not the least- she is in delirium. She is not trying to cause you trouble. She is not listening to you because she is in delirium- in her mind and memory her husband is probably alive and since he is not around she will want to go look for him. So try to be patient with her. it might help to understand her as much as it is important that she understands you.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Saumya Mittal
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