Hi my wife who i been with for 30 years and was caring for her for ten years and did not find it dificult at all to cut a long story short social serveses got involed and she was put into resedential care against my wishes it been just over a year now i have been with her every day playing music and geting her to sing which she loved doing it also made her tierd so she sleped well we would still laugh a lot and every thing was ok she was very agated at the start whith the carers when they tried to change her pad but i could do it she was as quiet as a lamb anyway all the agitation stoped and she would say things like ime always happy or i live here now which was music to my ears i started to worrying about her i started to do ghings my self like birdwatching a hobby of mine but still made sure i was there at some point every day then came the review as it had been a year she was put on menantine without me being told i found out by chance its been nearly a month now and it breaking my heart she sleeping one moomment staring into space the next cant speak very well or sing which was a blessing for her it made her come alive its like its doing the opposite to what they say it should ino its only going to get wose i spoke to manager of home so her doctor came out to her pulse rtc then sugested uping the memantine to my horror also i ask her now are you happy she slures no no i hate it and hate you trouble is its the dementia specalist groups doctor who put her onit without even meeting her or discusong it with me as i no her better than anyone and only want her to live life to the full and be happy while she can but this medication has just made the dementia worse i have not got power of urterny as many years ago i thourght it was only to do with money and propety wich we had neither but ive been there since she got dynosed all the hospitle opointments andwhent on a six week course about dementia and cared for her for ten years without one day away from it and i truly love her so only want her to have as much happyness as posible but now its just nothing she is like a zombie most of the time i just sit with her wuietly staring into space as well but i no if she was not on the medication we would have her cd on she be singing ide be clowning around to make her laugh
Memantine
- Thread starter Big feet pete.
- Start date
Continued I would go away from the care home noing she was content and look forward to seing her the next day or evning i would walk in and her face would light up every one of the carers used to say that now i walk in and have kneel down and say hell it me Pete and she stares back for some time like she aint got a clue who i am or whats going on as i would expect it shall be one day as no it worsen and dont get any better but surely it not humen to keep her on this mementine if its hurrying the process up very quickly.
Also i would take my wife out for drives in the country with the radio on which she enjoyed emensly or visit my Mums which she loved as they get on so well since she has been on this medication we done this sort of thing at all .
@Big feet pete, many of our members are in the UK and traffic here on Talking Point always slows down late at night and early in the morning, UK time. Please don't be upset that you haven't had more responses.
I am in the States and it's past my bedtime, but I'm sadly not asleep. Sometimes sleep can be elusive.
Did you have a question about memantine? I am not sure I spelled that correctly and will have to look it up!!
I am in the States and it's past my bedtime, but I'm sadly not asleep. Sometimes sleep can be elusive.
Did you have a question about memantine? I am not sure I spelled that correctly and will have to look it up!!
I googled that medication and I'm quite tired and still can't spell it properly. Here in the US it is usually known by the brand name Namenda. I have heard of it but have no personal experience with it. When my mother was diagnosed with dementia (type unspecified but likely Alzheimer's), the neurologist felt she was already too far advanced to be given any of the medications for dementia. We also had our hands full getting her in better health, as she had been generally unwell and malnourished and then had a crisis and been sectioned, and she had a lot of anxiety and it took a while to get all her medications sorted out.
Wishing you all the best.
Wishing you all the best.
Good morning.
I'm sorry you haven't had many replies. As Amy said it's likely that not many people were online when you posted at 2am.
I'm sorry I don't have any experience of that medication but I'm sure you will get more replies as the day goes on.
My husband has been on memantine for two years .
It seems to have slowed down the progression of his Alzheimer's, in particular during the first year, even though it is impossible to know what would have happended if he had not been on it.
My husband has not had any side effects so far. He seems quieter and less anxious, while when he was on other meds ( Donepezil and Aricept) he was more restless and got easily angry .
It seems to have slowed down the progression of his Alzheimer's, in particular during the first year, even though it is impossible to know what would have happended if he had not been on it.
My husband has not had any side effects so far. He seems quieter and less anxious, while when he was on other meds ( Donepezil and Aricept) he was more restless and got easily angry .
Like all medication, memantine can work well for some people but not others. From what you have posted, your wife was put on it month ago and since then she has been experiencing side effects such as excessive sleepiness. You say that she was prescribed it by the 'dementia specialists group doctor' without meeting with your wife or discussing it with you so the best thing to do would be to ask for an appointment with the dementia specialist. You can then ask them questions with regards why your wife was put on the medication and also point out the adverse side effects. Sometimes it takes a little while for medication to start working properly but if you are concerned ask to speak to the dementia doctor who prescribed the medication.
Sorry you had a bad visit with your wife and a frustrating night @Big feet pete. Louise knows more about memantine than I, and writing a letter to her specialist doctor or her GP outlining your concerns would be a good step. Have your tried the national dementia helpline who can advise and help steer you through the process. They are available 7 days a week, including til 4pm today.
National Dementia Helpline
0300 222 11 22
Our helpline advisers are here for you.
Helpline opening hours:
Monday to Wednesday 9am – 8pm
Thursday and Friday 9am – 5pm
Saturday and Sunday 10am – 4pm
National Dementia Helpline
0300 222 11 22
Our helpline advisers are here for you.
Helpline opening hours:
Monday to Wednesday 9am – 8pm
Thursday and Friday 9am – 5pm
Saturday and Sunday 10am – 4pm
Hi BigFeetPete,
Good to post on the Forum, the thing to realise that a lot of us are having life/death problems and don’t always have time to read all the posts.
However , just to say, dementia will win in the end.
Memantine is only prescribed to slow down Alzheimer in the more advanced stage. It may well be that your wife is progressing to this.
Sadly we have to go along with medics although this should have been explained to you. Ultimately we have to accept our loved one is going to disappear.
My husband age 74 died on Tuesday. 6 and a half years after diagnosis. We kept singing and playing music to him to the end. No response from him for 5 days before he went but I am sure deep inside we were still heard , and it helped us too with his passing.
Wishing you well and stay with it. Keep singing and play music, she will still enjoy it, and it takes time for response. Hold her hand and keep time to the music, try whistling along too.
Good to post on the Forum, the thing to realise that a lot of us are having life/death problems and don’t always have time to read all the posts.
However , just to say, dementia will win in the end.
Memantine is only prescribed to slow down Alzheimer in the more advanced stage. It may well be that your wife is progressing to this.
Sadly we have to go along with medics although this should have been explained to you. Ultimately we have to accept our loved one is going to disappear.
My husband age 74 died on Tuesday. 6 and a half years after diagnosis. We kept singing and playing music to him to the end. No response from him for 5 days before he went but I am sure deep inside we were still heard , and it helped us too with his passing.
Wishing you well and stay with it. Keep singing and play music, she will still enjoy it, and it takes time for response. Hold her hand and keep time to the music, try whistling along too.
Hello @Big feet pete.
Im sorry you felt you were being ignored, but unfortunately most of us were asleep between 2:14 am and 5:46am. Izzy posted at 8:12am and its now 10:20am here, while you are probably in bed! I do hope that you will feel less ignored when you wake up and read these posts.
You have been caring for your wife for 10 years which is a very long time for dementia. As Louise says, mematine is prescribed to slow down Alzheimers in the late stages, so although side effects can include drowsiness and confusion, you could just be looking at progression of the disease. Can you find out who prescribed it and ask why she was prescribed it? I am not sure how much the doctors will consider your wishes - in UK doctors will still consult family, even without Health and Welfare POA, but I dont know how this works in US. At the very least, though, I would have thought that they would consider a review.
Im sorry you felt you were being ignored, but unfortunately most of us were asleep between 2:14 am and 5:46am. Izzy posted at 8:12am and its now 10:20am here, while you are probably in bed! I do hope that you will feel less ignored when you wake up and read these posts.
You have been caring for your wife for 10 years which is a very long time for dementia. As Louise says, mematine is prescribed to slow down Alzheimers in the late stages, so although side effects can include drowsiness and confusion, you could just be looking at progression of the disease. Can you find out who prescribed it and ask why she was prescribed it? I am not sure how much the doctors will consider your wishes - in UK doctors will still consult family, even without Health and Welfare POA, but I dont know how this works in US. At the very least, though, I would have thought that they would consider a review.
It could be that this medication just doesn't suit your wife.
My wife has been on the usual max dose of Memantine(20mg) for about 18 months now and is doing very well on it. My wife and I like to sing and we still attend karaoke a couple of times a week, where she can sing like a bird.
About 7 months ago my wife was taken off that medication as it thought to be causing a side effect and her dementia progressed at a great speed. As it happened her problem wasn't a side effect after all and she was put back on the medication and settled down again. Due to my experience, I'd say Memantine is a real life saver.
It may be worth sticking to the Memantine for a while or discussing alternatives with the Drs.
By the way, was the dose built up over a few weeks? This medication is supposed to be introduced gradually over 4 weeks, going through 5mg, 10mg, 15mg then 20mg week by week as that enables the person to adjust to it.
My wife has been on the usual max dose of Memantine(20mg) for about 18 months now and is doing very well on it. My wife and I like to sing and we still attend karaoke a couple of times a week, where she can sing like a bird.
About 7 months ago my wife was taken off that medication as it thought to be causing a side effect and her dementia progressed at a great speed. As it happened her problem wasn't a side effect after all and she was put back on the medication and settled down again. Due to my experience, I'd say Memantine is a real life saver.
It may be worth sticking to the Memantine for a while or discussing alternatives with the Drs.
By the way, was the dose built up over a few weeks? This medication is supposed to be introduced gradually over 4 weeks, going through 5mg, 10mg, 15mg then 20mg week by week as that enables the person to adjust to it.
Hi bigfeet Pete,my mum has been on meantime just over a year,I find she is sleeping a lot more now ,went to bed yesterday at 6pm and I had to get her out of bed today at 11am I did consult her Dr asking if the meantime could be causing this excessive sleeping and should we stop it,he advised no and it was probably the progression of Alzheimers she has had this devastating illness for six years and I find it has progressed quickly in the last year my thoughts are with you and everyone on this long heartbreaking journey
