Multi-Infarct Dementia Medication

sandy25

Registered User
Nov 30, 2005
54
0
Hi All,
My dad has had multi-infarct dementia for the last 5 years and is not yet 65. I will be visiting his specialist shortly for the first time and wanted to get it clear in my head about his medication so I can ask. I know he only takes asparin, and anti-depressants but doesn't take any anti-dementia drugs.

Is this the norm for someone with this type of dementia? I've read somewhere that a drug company have said that Ebixa may be effective for people with vascular dementia but that it is only licenced for alzheimers at the moment. Should I press this point with the specialist??

We believe he may have had another TIA - 'little stroke' the other day so wanted to make sure that the medical profession aren't inadvertently forgetting about us and not offering suitable drugs to reduce the chance of this happening (I'm sure it happens - cynic that I am)
Any experience/advice on this area would be appreciated!
Thanks;)
 

Dave W

Registered User
Jul 3, 2005
268
0
63
Bucks
Complicated

Sandy

only the experience of my Mum's situation, but I'll share what little I know. Having a history of high BP and cholesterol, we have to be very careful with Mum and medication - she also has a slow heartbeat. The hospital consultant during her assessment, given that Mum was assessed as 'mostly vascular, some AD' tried her on Aricept, which we were told can be helpful with some patients. This made her faint a few times as it can slow the heart rate and lower blood pressure too rapidly, so she had to be taken off it. It is worth talking about dementia drugs with the doctor, but don't hold all too much hope that they may be suitable - there may be other aspects of medical history that may rule them out.

If your Dad is displaying any other symptoms (with my Mum it was paranoid delusions and hallucinations - often severe), then discuss these, as low dosage of an anti-psychotic can be very helpful. Mum hasn't - as far as we can tell - been hallucinating for sometime now.

I'm sorry this isn't very optimistic, but hope that others will be able to share their stories and advice.
 

sandy25

Registered User
Nov 30, 2005
54
0
Thanks Dave, think i will mention it because I've not been that involved in the medical side really as mum has dealt with all of that but I would like to know if they think he's got any mix of AD.

As yet no hallucinations I don't think. He's basically just confused, wanders (well shuffles) and can't string a sentance together really. But I think there may be other symptoms that I'm not aware of...
 

jenniferpa

Registered User
Jun 27, 2006
39,442
0
My understanding is that multi-infarct dementia is vascular dementia. Is that right? From everything I've read the drugs that are prescribed for AD show some promise in treating vascular dementia but are not licensed for use as such. Now, in the US I think I could get them prescribed "off label" but I don't think it's as straight forward as this in the UK. I suppose it's possible that a specialist might be willing to experiment, but I'm reasonably certain that most GP's wouldn't. However, since AD is a difficult disease to diagnose to a level of certainty, I imagine that there are some doctors who might be prepared to say "well it's vascular dementia with AD" and would therefore prescribe. I don't think any of them, though, will help stop a stroke. Have you any idea why he had his strokes in the first place? Many people who have strokes have high blood pressure - has he been checked for this?

Jennifer
 

pammy14

Registered User
Dec 5, 2005
103
0
leicestershire
My sister has Vascular dementia and has not been given any drug except aspirin and cholesterol tablets. GP said there is nothing else to be done.
 

Kayla

Registered User
May 14, 2006
621
0
Kent
Medication

My Mum has vascular dementia and she was given anti-depressant drugs and Haliparidol at first, but not after she went into a care home. The matron of her NH told me that sometimes anti-psychotic drugs can make things worse and they don't like to give them if it can be avoided. I don't know what Mum is taking now, but it is complicated by her rheumatoid arthritis drugs.
Mum is still having hallucinations, which seem to be more friendly and less frightening than earlier.
 

Amy

Registered User
Jan 4, 2006
3,454
0
Hiya,
My mum was diagnosed with multi infarcta dementia and found to have high blood pressure. When we asked about the AD drugs the doctor said that they were not suitable when there were blood pressre problems.
She is now off the blood pressure tablets as her blood pressure has swung the other way, but still taking aspirin.
Helen