Thats good to hearHi I’m on my 2nd week on Donepezil & so far so good
After a diagnosis of an 'Alzheiner's like process', My husband was given 5 mg of Donepezil back in June - for the first 4 weeks he was much more confused and agitated than he had been, and had trouble with his waterworks, although this settled a bit after another month or so. When we saw the consultant in October he doubled the dose to 10 mg. We didn't get the prescription until mid november, and within a week he was again confused, agitated and less himself. We have persisted, but in the last month he is definitely more confused; he can drop into a brief 'sleep', even when in conversation, passes water all night urgently and has just developed stiffness in his back and legs. We are both wondering if this is inspite of or because of the increased medication. See consultant in 4 weeks, but am going to check with GP meantime.
Has anyone else encountered this or had dosage reduced or changed drug? Pittheath
My Mum tolerated 5mg 'ok' but whenever we tried stepping up to 10 it just seemed to amplify her already aggressive and anxious state quite dramatically. I tried to put up with that, because I hoped the dose would help her in other ways, but it was too taxing on both of us.Donepezil just seems to make dad more aggitated and restless. Hes been taking it over a month now.
My mum has just been started on done pezil. ..I was hoping it would calm down her v agitated behaviourMy Mum tolerated 5mg 'ok' but whenever we tried stepping up to 10 it just seemed to amplify her already aggressive and anxious state quite dramatically. I tried to put up with that, because I hoped the dose would help her in other ways, but it was too taxing on both of us.
Perhaps the 5mg dose (for about four years now) is why she seems to be declining faster than the specialist anticipated, but it's all a bit of a lottery and Mum had some quite advanced symptoms quite early even though she was fine physically back then.
I wonder in retrospect whether I should have pushed for a change in medication, but I always get the impression that it's all clutching at straws really; mask one set of symptoms, emphasise others. Dementia's a moving target and it's always hard to know what's helping and when. But some folk really do seem to benefit, from what I've read on here. So better to have tried and failed than not at all.
My mother's dementia was described as 'FTD type Alzheimer's', whatever that really means. All I know is that she was a strong, feisty, no-nonsense woman all her life and dementia dialed that up to 11! Not everyone has the same reaction, otherwise it'd never get prescribed. However it's good to be warned about potential complications.My mum has just been started on donepezil. ..I was hoping it would calm down her v agitated behaviour
My husband used to take donepezil for a while but has been using rivastigmine for almost five years. He often complains about having nightmares and as he hasn't used donepezil for years, I believe it is more something to do with dementia than the drug. He can't really remember what happens in his dreams but he says they are terrible.My mum started on Donepezil 5mg, then upped to 10mg from November 2017. She had vivid dreams for a few weeks which, at the time, I didn't associate with Donepezil, but since discovering TP, now realise it was probably a side effect, but the only one, thank goodness.
Mum has always been a cheerful / laid back person and remains so, the AZ does not appear to have changed her emotionally, however, whether it has stabilised her memory is open to question. It was pretty bad before diagnosis and I would say is gradually getting worse.
It's probably harder for us to judge as mum lives with us, so we don't notice the decline as much as someone who lives away from their PWD.
My husband used to take donepezil for a while but has been using rivastigmine for almost five years. He often complains about having nightmares and as he hasn't used donepezil for years, I believe it is more something to do with dementia than the drug. He can't really remember what happens in his dreams but he says they are terrible.
My mum has just been started on done pezil. ..I was hoping it would calm down her v agitated behaviour
We have just had the same situation with my sons Nan, they increased her dose to 10mg 2 weeks ago and it had loads of side effects, she became incontinent (urine) had accident with her bowels, she was behaving very oddly, and became very aggressive and more confused, I phoned her nurse and she agreed that we should put her back down to 5mg luckily I had some in the house so did it straight away, you should not have to wait to see the consultant for this to be done, has he got a nurse allocated to him if so speak to them, they can d’action the change for you take care xAfter a diagnosis of an 'Alzheiner's like process', My husband was given 5 mg of Donepezil back in June - for the first 4 weeks he was much more confused and agitated than he had been, and had trouble with his waterworks, although this settled a bit after another month or so. When we saw the consultant in October he doubled the dose to 10 mg. We didn't get the prescription until mid november, and within a week he was again confused, agitated and less himself. We have persisted, but in the last month he is definitely more confused; he can drop into a brief 'sleep', even when in conversation, passes water all night urgently and has just developed stiffness in his back and legs. We are both wondering if this is inspite of or because of the increased medication. See consultant in 4 weeks, but am going to check with GP meantime.
Has anyone else encountered this or had dosage reduced or changed drug? Pittheath
My mother has just been diagnosed with dementia of the Alzheimer type.
She was immediately prescribed Donepezil 5mg to take daily at night and has been on these for one week.
She is actually worse..she has less memory, has become slightly aggressive / agitated and moved all the furniture around.
I will be ringing the consultant today.