Michael,
You are right on the money - every drug affects every patient differently (positively and negatively) and I would think with the nature of the disease, the AD drugs would have even more obvious effects.
And like Monique, my mother is certainly much more "aware". She is not really aware of her condition because she is considered to be a stage 6 but she certainly has been brought out of herself. Previously, she had spent months mostly staying in her room, in bed, not bathing & swearing at anyone who "bothered" her. So I feel it was worthwhile in her case.
It certainly is more difficult for you, as Monique has become more aware of her own limitations. Several years ago my mother kept thinking she was losing her mind. I kept saying "No, Mum, you're just losing your memory". That was the closest I could get to telling her she had AD. So you are in a difficult situation - what to do? Perhaps you should just wait & see for a while. I would really be hesitant about discontinuing any AD drugs. I too have heard all the stories about the incredibly swift declines.
Tell us how you fare.
Jennie,
My mother was on Aricept for 4 years. I did get Ebixa prescribed because I felt it was worth a shot, even though it was only conditionally approved in Canada at that point.
As I've said in previous posts, it certainly helped her moods, less anxiety, less agitation. The doctor switched to Reminyl from Aricept, there is a theory that it helps so that's why they like to keep a patient on either Reminyl or Aricept while using the Ebixa.
Joanne