My mother had psychiatric problems since the last 25 years (bipolar disease). We took treatment for some 8 years and stopped. Two months back we started treatment under a neuropsychiatrist. He started my mother on Clonazepam, Olanzapine and Valproate. She has been having memory problems and intense daytime drowsiness since then. An MRI taken a month back revealed dementia. Is this a coincidence that the symptoms started after the medicines? Or is it that the medicines have precipitated dementia? Can anyone here in anyway relate to this situation?
Can Dementia of early onset be due to medicines?
- Thread starter DrDH
- Start date
There have been recent reports that medications such as Omeprazole and Pregabalin can cause dementia or dementia-like symptoms but I don't think there's any real proof of that yet.
I had a concern about Epilim (sodium valproate) and a possible link with dementia.
I also read many times on Epilepsy forums (Epilim is primarily used to treat that) about 'memory loss'.
Also, to my knowledge at least, it's still 'unlicensed' for 'dementia use'.
It's always a possibility that, as usual we'll never know until 20-30 years down the line when/if it all comes out.
I also read many times on Epilepsy forums (Epilim is primarily used to treat that) about 'memory loss'.
Also, to my knowledge at least, it's still 'unlicensed' for 'dementia use'.
It's always a possibility that, as usual we'll never know until 20-30 years down the line when/if it all comes out.
Thanks for sharing the info, guys. Has anyone benefited by joining clinical trials? How do they work? Are there any disadvantages to joining a clinical trial? I live in India, and clinical trials don't run everywhere. Is it worth to exert ourselves by joining a trial or something? My mother is already on Memantine and Donepezil.
I've signed up with a group that does clinical trials, can't remember what they're called, but not heard anything so far.
Wow. I can't believe it's been over 1.5 years since I replied to this. I hope your mother is doing as ok as is possible.
Anyway. I meant to ask at the time if there was any specific reason your 'neuropsychiatrist' had prescribed olanzapine and sodium valproate together? As these medications apparantley can interact with each other (this is stated in the information leaflets for the meds you should receive in the medication boxes).
Furthermore I have been reading up on the subject during recent months. There have been some small studies that suggest a link between Sodium Valproate and an increased risk of dementia.
I'm afraid this is the Daily Mail with one of their usual OTT headlines - but the report is at least based on studies.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/...-drugs-increase-peoples-risk-dementia-60.html
Anyway. I meant to ask at the time if there was any specific reason your 'neuropsychiatrist' had prescribed olanzapine and sodium valproate together? As these medications apparantley can interact with each other (this is stated in the information leaflets for the meds you should receive in the medication boxes).
Furthermore I have been reading up on the subject during recent months. There have been some small studies that suggest a link between Sodium Valproate and an increased risk of dementia.
I'm afraid this is the Daily Mail with one of their usual OTT headlines - but the report is at least based on studies.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/...-drugs-increase-peoples-risk-dementia-60.html
Hi, my husband did tge RADAR trial. The important thing for him was that he thought he was doing something proactive and useful. It gave him hope and he told people he was taking a special new drug that would stop it getting worse. He's finished the trial now. It didn't seem to make any difference to his illness but certainly made him feel more positive.
My OH has had epilepsy for many years and has had many anticonvulsants during this time, including Sodium Valporate, pregabalin and clobazam. In the past few years he has started getting memory loss and is now in cognitive decline. I asked his neurologist (one that specialises in cognitive disorders) whether it was in some way related and I was told that anyone with a neurological disorder or a brain injury is far, far more likely to develop cognitive problems than the general population. I was told specifically that OHs cognitive decline was not due to the medication.
