Don't know if Ebixa is working still
My husband was on Aricept from May 2002 to August 2003, and it helped to some extent with communication and comprehension. By August 2003 it seemed clear that it was no longer having much effect, so it was stopped. He deteriorated fairly rapidly through Autumn 2003, and was admitted to NHS care at Christmas 2003.
At a ward Care Policy meeting in April 2004 I asked his consultant psychiatrist if he would consider prescribing Ebixa. He replied that he would have been disappointed in me if I hadn't suggested it! I think he said that this would be the first person in our health authority to be prescribed Ebixa. He asked for a month or two to try to get the level of other medications (sedatives and anti-psychotics) right, and he started prescribing Ebixa in June. It had quite a significant effect as far as I could tell (My husband's twin brother and other regular visitors agreed ). My husband seemed better able to communicate, a bit more aware of things and co-operative, and we all agreed that it improved his quality of life. This continued until just before Christmas, but since then we have all noticed a marked deterioration, both physically and mentally, although a Urinary Tract Infection just before Christmas may have had a bearing on this (known for causing mental deterioration in dementia patients).
The infection was cleared up quickly with antibiotics, but his condition has not improved, and he had a seizure last week, which I have been warned may be due to progression of the disease, and which may become a feature of his illness. If he has a further seizure they may ask for an MRI scan.
I will be attending another care policy review with his named nurse (who is excellent), his psychiatrist and possibly his CPA and/or Social Worker and a Hospital Manager next Tuesday. I suspect that among the issues discussed will be whether to continue with Ebixa, and I do wonder what will happen if he comes off it, although I sense that it isn't having much effect now. My views are always given serious consideration and taken into account, but I know that the final decision is with the doctor. I am of course concerned with my husband's quality of life, which seems to be rapidly decreasing, although he still enjoys his food and has "good days" when he seems cheerful and smiles at the staff, who always say "he has been lovely" Sadly he still has times when he is aggressive and "punchy".
I will also be interested in any views on this topic.
Thank you all.
Ruthie