I have heard a lot of people say they are on Aricept. Mum is not on any medication for her dementia, except aspirin and Dypridamole (for her blood), and Nitrazepam, to TRY to help her sleep. Do you think it is worth asking her GP to put her on something to calm herdown? She paces about all day and half of the night.
Aricept
- Thread starter parmit
- Start date
Your mum needs to see a mental health Consultant for this, to establish what medication might help her best. Ask for a referral through the GP. Aricept is to slow down the symptoms from certain dementias basically, by stopping the "plaques" forming in the brain. It can help with agitation but not in every case, and it has some side effects too. You need to speak to a specialist who will evaluate what your mum needs.
WHAT??? thats VERY poor practice! Do you have a CPN then? i would phone the memory clinic and ask for another appointment. To say such a thing at the stage your mum sounds like shes at is outrageous, although I have heard of this happening before. aricept is an expensive drug- but thats just me being cynical so take no notice of me. Get yourself and your mum back to that clinic and firmly request that they help with your mums symptoms.
thats VERY poor practice! Do you have a CPN then? i would phone the memory clinic and ask for another appointment. To say such a thing at the stage your mum sounds like shes at is outrageous, although I have heard of this happening before. aricept is an expensive drug- but thats just me being cynical so take no notice of me. Get yourself and your mum back to that clinic and firmly request that they help with your mums symptoms.Differing Opinions!
Mum went to the memory clinic for the first time in May this year and was told by the consultant that she was entitled to be given Aricept as she had scored 15/30 but he thought that there was no point as her short-term memory was so bad. However, when we returned in October for her check-up and she still scored 15/30, a different consultant said that she couldn't understand why Mum hadn't been given Aricept and immediately prescribed it! She's been on 5mg for 4 weeks and has now just gone up to 10mg so it's probably too early to judge whether or not she is any better. Mum has Alzheimer's, not Vascular Dementia, but I still think it would be worthwhile having another opinion. I just didn't realise that the prescription of Aricept was so open to individual interpretation of need - I thought they had tighter guidelines!
Mum went to the memory clinic for the first time in May this year and was told by the consultant that she was entitled to be given Aricept as she had scored 15/30 but he thought that there was no point as her short-term memory was so bad. However, when we returned in October for her check-up and she still scored 15/30, a different consultant said that she couldn't understand why Mum hadn't been given Aricept and immediately prescribed it! She's been on 5mg for 4 weeks and has now just gone up to 10mg so it's probably too early to judge whether or not she is any better. Mum has Alzheimer's, not Vascular Dementia, but I still think it would be worthwhile having another opinion. I just didn't realise that the prescription of Aricept was so open to individual interpretation of need - I thought they had tighter guidelines!
Zoet
The only contacts we have are her GP (who is great) and SW (who can't even be bothered to return phone calls or emails). Mum is due back to her GP on 9th dec. and I will ask her if she can refer her back to memory clinic. They have not even done a memory score test as they said her lack of schooling when she was a child would not give a true result.
Mum spends most of her day pacing round the flat, or eating,we think this may be due to boredom, but she won't do anything for more than a few minutes at a time. She used to crochet, now she wont try, she will colour,for about 5 mins then gives up.
If anyone has any more advice on what we can do or who she should be seeing I would be very grateful. We are running out of ideas and patience.
Sorry to waffle on, but it gets it all off my chest.
The only contacts we have are her GP (who is great) and SW (who can't even be bothered to return phone calls or emails). Mum is due back to her GP on 9th dec. and I will ask her if she can refer her back to memory clinic. They have not even done a memory score test as they said her lack of schooling when she was a child would not give a true result.
Mum spends most of her day pacing round the flat, or eating,we think this may be due to boredom, but she won't do anything for more than a few minutes at a time. She used to crochet, now she wont try, she will colour,for about 5 mins then gives up.
If anyone has any more advice on what we can do or who she should be seeing I would be very grateful. We are running out of ideas and patience.
Sorry to waffle on, but it gets it all off my chest.
When I used to be a regular visitor to an EMI ward we devised a box of colourful cloth; tea towels, scarfs and pretty hankies. Some of the patients would spend happy hours sorting and straightening them over and over again. They seemed to get pleasure from handling the differtent textures and creating some sense of order. It's worth a try
Hi Parmit
It sounds like you are being heavily short changed by the consultant and the system.
My Mum was diagnosed with Alzheimers in Sept of this year and from the day of her first appointment with the consultant was prescribed Aricept.
The route we took to get to this point, was
1) Visited GP with concerns about her memory
2)GP referred Mum to Memory Clinic after doing blood tests and ruling out any underlying obvious medical cause for her confusion
3) In July Mental Health Nurse came out to see my Mum to do a Mini Mental Test which she scored badly on (i.e. could not even put the numbers on a clock face correctly and draw the hands on the clock to display a given time)
4) Was given an appointment for a CT scan to check for Vascular Dementia etc.
5) Appointment then arranged with Consultant for Sept whereby she was then prescribed Aricept.
6) We have since then had a further follow up appointment in November, although it was originally to be for 7 months, but I got it brought forward due to my concerns about her behaviour becoming worse.
I can't believe that. What else is he there for then - we all know you can't cure dementia but it is his job to monitor it and prescribe appropriate medication to help if necessary.
I can't believe the above ! - The test they do is NOT an exam type test and the level of your education would have no bearing on it (i.e. questions that they use such as remembering three words in order are not education related).
We have an appointed Mental Health Nurse that we can ring with concerns at any time.
It might be a good idea if you questioned the treatment of your Mum with your G.P., Social Worker or anyone concerned with the Memory Clinic.
XXX
It sounds like you are being heavily short changed by the consultant and the system.
My Mum was diagnosed with Alzheimers in Sept of this year and from the day of her first appointment with the consultant was prescribed Aricept.
The route we took to get to this point, was
1) Visited GP with concerns about her memory
2)GP referred Mum to Memory Clinic after doing blood tests and ruling out any underlying obvious medical cause for her confusion
3) In July Mental Health Nurse came out to see my Mum to do a Mini Mental Test which she scored badly on (i.e. could not even put the numbers on a clock face correctly and draw the hands on the clock to display a given time)
4) Was given an appointment for a CT scan to check for Vascular Dementia etc.
5) Appointment then arranged with Consultant for Sept whereby she was then prescribed Aricept.
6) We have since then had a further follow up appointment in November, although it was originally to be for 7 months, but I got it brought forward due to my concerns about her behaviour becoming worse.
I can't believe that
. What else is he there for then - we all know you can't cure dementia but it is his job to monitor it and prescribe appropriate medication to help if necessary.I can't believe the above ! - The test they do is NOT an exam type test and the level of your education would have no bearing on it (i.e. questions that they use such as remembering three words in order are not education related).
We have an appointed Mental Health Nurse that we can ring with concerns at any time.
It might be a good idea if you questioned the treatment of your Mum with your G.P., Social Worker or anyone concerned with the Memory Clinic.
XXX
Wispa
I will definately bring this up with her GP. Do you know if I can contact the memory clinic myself or will it have to be through my GP. When she had her one and only appointment there I believe she was discharged, as they said there was nothing more they could do and we were not given another appointment.
I will definately bring this up with her GP. Do you know if I can contact the memory clinic myself or will it have to be through my GP. When she had her one and only appointment there I believe she was discharged, as they said there was nothing more they could do and we were not given another appointment.
Have just made mum a drs appointment for tomorrow morning and will see if I get any more help and the support that it appears we should be getting.
I would not have known about half of the things I have learned by talking to all of you.
A big THANK YOU
Will let you know how I get on.
I would not have known about half of the things I have learned by talking to all of you.
A big THANK YOU
Will let you know how I get on.
Hi Parmit
I would hope that she has not been 'discharged' as she still has memory problems and is not cured (wish that was a possibility!).
She should still be on their list and the fact she has a Social Worker assigned shows that to be the case.
Can I ask if you or any other family members were actually with your Mum when she had her first appointment with the consultant (i.e. I was wondering if 'no further follow ups required' is possibly your Mum's interpretation of events ????)
If you know the number of the memory clinic you can call them and ask which specific Mental Health Nurse or Community Psychiatric Nurse is assigned to your Mum and ask to speak to them directly about your concerns.
Alternatively if you don't have a contact number your GP would be able to let you know what it is.
If you had a better Social Worker than the one you seem to have it would be helpful, as they work closely with the Mental Health Teams and would be able to help you find out what is happening.
When my Mum attended her first appointment in Sept, with the consultant, she was not given a further appointment at that point. We were told that this would follow on in the post. It never did, and in any event I rang two months later in November to ask for a further appointment as I was concerned about her.
In the meantime for some reason we had a change of consultant and the second one is much better than the first one we saw.
The problem is that it is difficult to convey your concerns when your Mum is sat next to you so I honestly think the consultant does not have much clue as to how bad things are, so to date I have posted three long letters (prior to appointments), directly to the consultant, describing her behaviour, so that I do not have to talk about it whilst she is there.
XXX
I would hope that she has not been 'discharged' as she still has memory problems and is not cured (wish that was a possibility!).
She should still be on their list and the fact she has a Social Worker assigned shows that to be the case.
Can I ask if you or any other family members were actually with your Mum when she had her first appointment with the consultant (i.e. I was wondering if 'no further follow ups required' is possibly your Mum's interpretation of events ????)
If you know the number of the memory clinic you can call them and ask which specific Mental Health Nurse or Community Psychiatric Nurse is assigned to your Mum and ask to speak to them directly about your concerns.
Alternatively if you don't have a contact number your GP would be able to let you know what it is.
If you had a better Social Worker than the one you seem to have it would be helpful, as they work closely with the Mental Health Teams and would be able to help you find out what is happening.
When my Mum attended her first appointment in Sept, with the consultant, she was not given a further appointment at that point. We were told that this would follow on in the post. It never did, and in any event I rang two months later in November to ask for a further appointment as I was concerned about her.
In the meantime for some reason we had a change of consultant and the second one is much better than the first one we saw.
The problem is that it is difficult to convey your concerns when your Mum is sat next to you so I honestly think the consultant does not have much clue as to how bad things are, so to date I have posted three long letters (prior to appointments), directly to the consultant, describing her behaviour, so that I do not have to talk about it whilst she is there.
XXX
Parmit im a quite disgusted by the level of support you and your mum are NOT receiving. It needs to be addressed and quickly, because things can change so very fast. Insist on another consultant, your mother has that right, and she has the right to have a chance with any appropriate tests, medication or investigation no matter what her level of schooling was- how discraceful. Your SW needs a kick up the wotsit and reminding she has a client who has needs. You must contact her and ASK for any sort of help, and be quite firm, as tehy can be very off-putting with talk of waiting lists and funding etc. You should be building some sort of relationship with these so called teams because you may need them in the future. Your mum sounds like she may benefit from day care or some other sort of group. Ask the Sw, but also look on the internet for local carers groups who may know what is available in your area. Age Concern have some very good resources if appropriate so they may be worth a call. Its quite a pain, i wont beat about the bush, but if there is one thing i have learned, if you dont ask, you generally dont get! xx
Hi Larivy
Yes I have read other posts from forum members that have said the same, but I have never been given an option to see the consultant independantly of my Mum, but that is such a good idea, although I can imagine what my Mum would have to say about that. I know she would be unbelievably angry, so perhaps its best if I stick with the letters (as time consuming as they are!)
XXX
Yes I have read other posts from forum members that have said the same, but I have never been given an option to see the consultant independantly of my Mum, but that is such a good idea, although I can imagine what my Mum would have to say about that
. I know she would be unbelievably angry, so perhaps its best if I stick with the letters (as time consuming as they are!)XXX
UPDATE
I took mum to the doctors this morning and she (the doctor) agreed that she should be going to the memory clinic consultant on a regular basis and would refer her back. I would love to see letter she writes as she doesn't pull her punches. She has, in the meantime, prescribed her Haloperidol 1 x 500 micrograms in the morning and evening, which I can increase to 2 in a couple of days if I need to, and she is seeing her in a week. Will let you know if these help her to settle.
I took mum to the doctors this morning and she (the doctor) agreed that she should be going to the memory clinic consultant on a regular basis and would refer her back. I would love to see letter she writes as she doesn't pull her punches. She has, in the meantime, prescribed her Haloperidol 1 x 500 micrograms in the morning and evening, which I can increase to 2 in a couple of days if I need to, and she is seeing her in a week. Will let you know if these help her to settle.
