Hi
My Dad is 83, diagnosed with Alzheimers 2 years ago and living in care home for 18 months. He declined very rapidly after diagnosis.
He is on Respiridone (anti physicotic), Mirtazapine (anti depressant), Memantine (moderate to severe Alzhimers), Donepazil (Arracept) Warfarin (blood thinner). He sufferers a lot with urnine infections, has quite a few chest infections, sleeps most of the time, and has become more and more unsteady on his feet (9 falls this year) And his walking is very shuffly and he can't manage to walk very far at all.
He recently had a review from Mental Health care team who have decided they are going to try and reduce the Respiridone again. They tried this before over 6 mnths ago, and his aggresive behaviour came straight back. The aggresive behaviour is all related to his personal care, needing his pad changed or showering. It got to the point where it would take 4 of them to get him changed, and he would be exhausted after each out burst. So they decided to up the dose again.
They are also going to stop the Donepazil.
I know that the Respiridone should only really be used for 6 - 12 weeks maximum and that is necessary to watch carefully for balance problems which he clearly has. I am also aware that losing the ability to walk is part of the progression of the disease. The sleeping a lot, apart from medication, I am sure is to do with his depression, age and progress of disease.
Any change in any of his medications previously he has reacted very badly to.
Does any one have any advice for me? Do you think I should ask for no changes to be made, insist that they stop the Respiridone, try another type of drug, eg. anti anixety instead of anti phsychotic. Any questions I could ask the Mental health team, people at care home, or his GP?
Thanks in advance.
My Dad is 83, diagnosed with Alzheimers 2 years ago and living in care home for 18 months. He declined very rapidly after diagnosis.
He is on Respiridone (anti physicotic), Mirtazapine (anti depressant), Memantine (moderate to severe Alzhimers), Donepazil (Arracept) Warfarin (blood thinner). He sufferers a lot with urnine infections, has quite a few chest infections, sleeps most of the time, and has become more and more unsteady on his feet (9 falls this year) And his walking is very shuffly and he can't manage to walk very far at all.
He recently had a review from Mental Health care team who have decided they are going to try and reduce the Respiridone again. They tried this before over 6 mnths ago, and his aggresive behaviour came straight back. The aggresive behaviour is all related to his personal care, needing his pad changed or showering. It got to the point where it would take 4 of them to get him changed, and he would be exhausted after each out burst. So they decided to up the dose again.
They are also going to stop the Donepazil.
I know that the Respiridone should only really be used for 6 - 12 weeks maximum and that is necessary to watch carefully for balance problems which he clearly has. I am also aware that losing the ability to walk is part of the progression of the disease. The sleeping a lot, apart from medication, I am sure is to do with his depression, age and progress of disease.
Any change in any of his medications previously he has reacted very badly to.
Does any one have any advice for me? Do you think I should ask for no changes to be made, insist that they stop the Respiridone, try another type of drug, eg. anti anixety instead of anti phsychotic. Any questions I could ask the Mental health team, people at care home, or his GP?
Thanks in advance.