Doc has presecribed Anti Psychotic for dad

J@ne

Registered User
Jan 10, 2007
17
0
I'm not seeking any medical or pharmaceutical advice here, but just sounding people out. The GP has prescribed Amisulpride for dad. My stepmum took him to ask for sedatives to try to help with the restlessness especially at night, and I picked them up for them this week. But when I checked the information sheet it's a neuroleptic and common side effects (as with plenty of neuroleptics) include anxiety and restlessness and insomnia :confused: . Dad shows no signs of any psychotic symptoms at all so I'm alarmed frankly. The only thing I can think is that the doc didn't really listen, and my stepmum may have mentioned that he's sometimes angry and bangs tables etc - but that's frustration and panic not psychosis!

Is it common for people with AD to be on anti-psychotics? I assumed he'd be prescribed a mild tranquilliser or something so was absolutely stunned to discover it's a neuroleptic! I spent years working for local Mind watching people who'd been on those things for years and I don't like to think of dad taking them and if the side effects are going to produce the symptoms my stepmum was hoping they'd alleviate in him then :eek: .

My sister and I both think we should ask the doc for a review of his meds anyway as he's on Aricept but he seems to be deteriorating at a steady pace anyway.
 

Áine

Registered User
Feb 22, 2006
994
0
sort of north east ish
Hi j@ne

I don't know how usual it is, but it's obviously seen as a treatment option - for example see this link:

http://www.nmhct.nhs.uk/pharmacy/benzamide.htm

If you're unhappy though, for your own peace of mind maybe you and your sister should ask for a review. It's a difficult situation to be in I think. My dad deteriorated quickly, and they tried several different drugs on him, sometimes changing more than one at the same time. He continued to go downhill quickly and it was difficult to have any idea whether it was his illness or the medication (or the different combinations of it) that was making the difference.

best wishes

Áine
 

connie

Registered User
Mar 7, 2004
9,519
0
Frinton-on-Sea
Hi Jane, there will be several schools of thought, and plenty of expert advice, about neuroleptics.

I can only say the Lionel going on Sulpiride helped toward me keeping him at home for a further 10 months. Indeed if mobility had not gone he would be here with me still. It was a bit trial and arror in the begining, as the first one did not agree with him, but after that things improved greatly.

Just my observation on the suvject.
 

blue sea

Registered User
Aug 24, 2005
270
0
England
Hi Jane
You are right to raise the issues that concern you. I would recommend asking for a referral to a psychiatric specialist. My experience has been that GPs do not always know enough about the range and effects of drugs used to control behaviour symptoms resulting from dementia. A second opinion would be reassuring for you.
Blue sea
 

kayleigh999

Registered User
Apr 6, 2007
53
0
64
Birmingham,England
Hi

You may have seen my posts recently on violent behaviour and the terrible dilemma I have been going through with my Mom.

She is 2 weeks into a diagnosis of VaD with "patchy" evidence of AD also and has been prescribed amisulpride by her psychiatrist.

I would have to say in my Moms case it is for severe delusions,hallusinations and violent tendencies. The doctors exact words they would "dampen " down the severity of the sympoms. It may seem in comparison your Dad has been given them maybe too freely? I came home and googled them and some sites actually say they make agressive behaviour worse.

Mom is now on 50 mg which I suspect will rise and there seems to be a little improvement as the days go on.

Dont know if this was any help but it seems Mom was given them for severe psychosis.

Best wishes.

Kxxxxx
 
Last edited:

Michael E

Registered User
Apr 14, 2005
619
0
Ronda Spain
Some months ago now it was impossible to get Monique to sleep or to stay in bed.. stopped being 'funny' at 1 or 2 in the morning having already spent the entire evening trying to get her to bed... I went to the Doctor with the problem and he prescribed an anti-psychotic as well - to help her sleep.

It took a week or 10 days to become effective but now works very well indeed..

Michael
 

MillyP

Registered User
Jan 5, 2007
108
0
London
My Dad has vascular Dementia with Capgras syndrome and he's on Amisulpride 100mg twice daily...he's been taking them since Easter weekend and to be honest I think they are beginning to wear off a bit as he's starting to talk about two houses again...:(
 

Sunlight

Registered User
Feb 12, 2007
55
0
The CPN thinks its time we thought about anti-psychotics for my mother. She does get angry and has hit me in the past but the problem isn't really that bad - as long as I go along with whatever she says (which I mostly do) she is ok. The main problem she has is the lack of sleep at night. The GP recently tried a new sleeping tablet with no effect. The CPN reckons the Seroquel will help with this but I'm not sure what to do as I've read so many bad things about this drug and people with dementia.
 

Nebiroth

Registered User
Aug 20, 2006
3,510
0
As with most things you have to do a risk-benefit comparison.

We had little choice but to go with Seroquel (quitiapine) for my Dad because his paranoid delusions were making life unbearable - it's impossible to cope with someone when they believe the neighbours have listening devices on the walls and they go out to the front of the house every five minutes to "inspect the damage" that "they" have done to the house. He was also beginning to become agressive towards my mother.

As you have noted agression can be linked to disagreeing with the person with dementia. I think it's partly frustration and fear in that you are living in a world that other people keep saying is not real (even though it is completely real to you), but also from disinhibition - almost a return to the childish behavior patterns of throwing tantrums and hitting if you can;t get your own way.

My Dad still does this, but mostly just goes into sulking, which we ignore.

We have also learnt that it is better to go along with Dad's daft, but harmless, beliefs for example he is convinced that he fought in Canada with the French in the 18th century and also that Southampton was once part of the Isle of Wight but was floated over because there were too many people...:rolleyes:
 

connie

Registered User
Mar 7, 2004
9,519
0
Frinton-on-Sea
Yes, agree. Quitiapine never agreed with Lionel, almost a disaster, and I was at home alone with him.

Switched to sulpiride, like a different person. As I mentioned before, this enabled me to keep Lionel at home for much longer.

Do hope you can get something sorted out.
 

alfjess

Registered User
Jul 10, 2006
1,213
0
south lanarkshire
Hi

Quetiapine helped Mum and us to cope for longer. She started on a very small dose, which did help for about six months, after which she became hyperactive, aggressive, not sleeping, trying to escape from daycare, etc. CPN via phychiatric geriatrician doubled the dose, again a success, for a few months, but eventually, I had to admitt defeat and they are now in care, for respite, but very probably permanently
Alfjess
 

Nell

Registered User
Aug 9, 2005
1,170
0
72
Australia
MillyP said:
My Dad has vascular Dementia with Capgras syndrome and he's on Amisulpride 100mg twice daily...he's been taking them since Easter weekend and to be honest I think they are beginning to wear off a bit as he's starting to talk about two houses again...:(

Would it be possible for the Doc. to increase his dosage? Have no idea what upper limits of the dosage would be. I just know that a few years ago my "depression medication" started to be less effective and an increased dosage has done the trick (most of the time :eek: ) for about 5 years since then. Good Luck!
 

Nell

Registered User
Aug 9, 2005
1,170
0
72
Australia
Nebiroth said:
We have also learnt that it is better to go along with Dad's daft, but harmless, beliefs for example he is convinced that he fought in Canada with the French in the 18th century and also that Southampton was once part of the Isle of Wight but was floated over because there were too many people...:rolleyes:

You know I think if I have dementia at any stage, I'll be someone like your Dad! I already have the most extraordinary dreams and wake up half thinking they are true!! Was very relieved to discover this morning that I had NOT really spent the night throwing unknown individuals off a deep canyon into bottomless water and watching them drown!! :eek: :eek: :eek:

(Maybe I already need help! ;) )
 

MillyP

Registered User
Jan 5, 2007
108
0
London
Nell said:


Would it be possible for the Doc. to increase his dosage? Have no idea what upper limits of the dosage would be. I just know that a few years ago my "depression medication" started to be less effective and an increased dosage has done the trick (most of the time :eek: ) for about 5 years since then. Good Luck!


I think the Doctor will have to increase it....my only concern is that Dad has only been on this tablet since Easter and it was working...to start wearing off so quickly is worrying....:(
 

lady racer

Registered User
Mar 12, 2007
15
0
northwest england
J@ne said:
I'm not seeking any medical or pharmaceutical advice here, but just sounding people out. The GP has prescribed Amisulpride for dad. My stepmum took him to ask for sedatives to try to help with the restlessness especially at night, and I picked them up for them this week. But when I checked the information sheet it's a neuroleptic and common side effects (as with plenty of neuroleptics) include anxiety and restlessness and insomnia :confused: . Dad shows no signs of any psychotic symptoms at all so I'm alarmed frankly. The only thing I can think is that the doc didn't really listen, and my stepmum may have mentioned that he's sometimes angry and bangs tables etc - but that's frustration and panic not psychosis!

Is it common for people with AD to be on anti-psychotics? I assumed he'd be prescribed a mild tranquilliser or something so was absolutely stunned to discover it's a neuroleptic! I spent years working for local Mind watching people who'd been on those things for years and I don't like to think of dad taking them and if the side effects are going to produce the symptoms my stepmum was hoping they'd alleviate in him then :eek: .

My sister and I both think we should ask the doc for a review of his meds anyway as he's on Aricept but he seems to be deteriorating at a steady pace anyway.

I work with people with dementia i personally would speak to the pschiatrist that prescribed the aricept as they will be more aware of what drugs work well and reduce symptoms of restlesness and insomnia. General practitioners can only go from what they are told and often they are not up to date with medications used for AD. I have found anti-psychotic drugs are used quite often and can have some good effects but its all to do with getting the right drug with the right dose for that person as we are all individual and react differently. hope this has been of some help to you , take care.
 

Nell

Registered User
Aug 9, 2005
1,170
0
72
Australia
[QUOTE=MillyP]I think the Doctor will have to increase it....my only concern is that Dad has only been on this tablet since Easter and it was working...to start wearing off so quickly is worrying....:([/QUOTE]

Milly, try not to worry too much. (Easier said than done!!) I think Doctors usually start patients on the lowest possible dose of a medication (unless they have a good reason to do otherwise) and then go from there. Certainly that was my experoience of depression meds. - and that of others I know too.

If your Dad started on a very low dose, he might quite easily need to have it increased before it becomes effective long term.

(Having said that, I'm not a medical person - only speaking from my own experiences.)

Whhatever happens, I'm sending you good wishes for an improved outcome.
 

Nell

Registered User
Aug 9, 2005
1,170
0
72
Australia
[QUOTE=Skye]No Nell, you sound entirely sane to me![/QUOTE]

Thanks Hazel!! ;)

Actually I think my dreams are trying to tell me something!! Last night I dreamt I chucked a wobbly because I'd been washing dishes all night :)confused: ) and went off to surf instead!! Haven't surfed for over 20 years, but in my dream I experienced again all the delicious sensations!! Might have to take it up again next summer!! (Winter is just starting here in the Antipodes!)
 

chip

Registered User
Jul 19, 2005
400
0
Scotland
My husband was on amisulpride low dose it caused insomia and he became more agitated as well. He is now just home yesterday from hospital (been in for 3 weeks for assesment) and he has been put on Quetiapine low dose. Ok i've only had him one evening night and morning but the only difference is he is more sleepy, he is the same as he was before he was put on it moving things that isn't there, blabbing on. I asked about the drugs causing more confusion and they can. Drugs for people with Dementia really need to be sorted out and investigated. My husband also has has a seizure and i see he has been back on inhalers for asthma as well all of which the drugs he is on say take special care. Is the side affects of the drugs making suffers worse than they really are?????
 

Jane1

Registered User
Mar 3, 2007
54
0
Leicestershire
My dad is just going into his 2nd prescription of sulpiride and it has calmed him down. He quite often nods off as soon as he sits down and we have noticed he sleeps better at night and wakes up later in the morning if he takes his tablet later the previous evening. He's said they make his haed 'funny' but i think that's because he feels sleepy, mum thinks they are great as it does give her a little peace!!:)
 

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