Hi there,
My Dad was diagnosed with Alzheimer's 2 years ago and has declined very quickly. He is only 70 years old and I wonder whether his quick decline is due to his young age. He had a seizure two days ago in his care home but nothing showed up in his tests and no infections to explain his worsening conditions. Since then he has declined even more, unable to hold a conversation, babbling nonsense, can't follow simple instructions, is extremely week, hallucinating and disorientated.
Last week the psychiatrist put him on a low dose of Respiridone to sedate him a little because he was getting really aggressive and the care home didn't know how to deal with him. They have taken him off it now but I wonder whether the seizure and his decline is a result of the medication - I feel so guilty for letting them put him on it, surely the care home should know how to deal with challenging behaviour like his?! Last week he was up, walking, I took him out for coffee and we had a nice little chat and a week later he is just lying in bed totally out of it.
Are seizures part of AD? Has anyone else had experience with Respiridone? Could it be that his young age is why he is declining so quickly or is there something we are missing? I thought this was a slow disease but thing have been so quick for Dad.
I'd appreciate any words of wisdom!!!
My Dad was diagnosed with Alzheimer's 2 years ago and has declined very quickly. He is only 70 years old and I wonder whether his quick decline is due to his young age. He had a seizure two days ago in his care home but nothing showed up in his tests and no infections to explain his worsening conditions. Since then he has declined even more, unable to hold a conversation, babbling nonsense, can't follow simple instructions, is extremely week, hallucinating and disorientated.
Last week the psychiatrist put him on a low dose of Respiridone to sedate him a little because he was getting really aggressive and the care home didn't know how to deal with him. They have taken him off it now but I wonder whether the seizure and his decline is a result of the medication - I feel so guilty for letting them put him on it, surely the care home should know how to deal with challenging behaviour like his?! Last week he was up, walking, I took him out for coffee and we had a nice little chat and a week later he is just lying in bed totally out of it.
Are seizures part of AD? Has anyone else had experience with Respiridone? Could it be that his young age is why he is declining so quickly or is there something we are missing? I thought this was a slow disease but thing have been so quick for Dad.
I'd appreciate any words of wisdom!!!