Hi
This is my first visit and posting / thread on this forum
My mother is 79 and was diagnosed with Alzheimer's nearly 2 years ago, she also was diagnosed with breast cancer and had a breast removed 2.5 years ago.
My father is 80 this month and is her main carer but he is in poor health himself and suffers from Emphysema. I call in every day and do what I can but my mother will not leave the house with me at weekends so my father does not get any breaks from her, we considered putting Mum in respite for a week or week-end but my father changed his mind at the last minute as he felt he was failing in his duty .
Mum has been on Aricept for around 18 months and during her 6 monthly assessment was achieving scores of around 18- 21.
For the last couple of months I have seen in her a deterioration and her mood swings are very noticeable and on her last two assessments she would refuse to answer the questions and gets very angry, so consequently she only scored 12 and is being re-assessed after 2 months instead of 6. ( The consultant has perscribed her Citalopram & Quetiapine to try to calm her )
I think the consultant may say the Aricept drug is now having no effect and take her off it
What will happen to her condition if she is taken off it as I have read reports that after 6 weeks or so my Mum will be in a position as if she hadn't been given it, I dont really understand what that means in real terms
If she is taken off the Aricept I do not think my farther will be able to cope as he is barelly coping at the moment and the consultant is saying we should sit down as a family and consider residential care for my mother. My two brothers are over from abroad this month so that is what I intend to do
Has any one any experience of what is likely to happen once this drug is withdrawn?
This is my first visit and posting / thread on this forum
My mother is 79 and was diagnosed with Alzheimer's nearly 2 years ago, she also was diagnosed with breast cancer and had a breast removed 2.5 years ago.
My father is 80 this month and is her main carer but he is in poor health himself and suffers from Emphysema. I call in every day and do what I can but my mother will not leave the house with me at weekends so my father does not get any breaks from her, we considered putting Mum in respite for a week or week-end but my father changed his mind at the last minute as he felt he was failing in his duty .
Mum has been on Aricept for around 18 months and during her 6 monthly assessment was achieving scores of around 18- 21.
For the last couple of months I have seen in her a deterioration and her mood swings are very noticeable and on her last two assessments she would refuse to answer the questions and gets very angry, so consequently she only scored 12 and is being re-assessed after 2 months instead of 6. ( The consultant has perscribed her Citalopram & Quetiapine to try to calm her )
I think the consultant may say the Aricept drug is now having no effect and take her off it
What will happen to her condition if she is taken off it as I have read reports that after 6 weeks or so my Mum will be in a position as if she hadn't been given it, I dont really understand what that means in real terms
If she is taken off the Aricept I do not think my farther will be able to cope as he is barelly coping at the moment and the consultant is saying we should sit down as a family and consider residential care for my mother. My two brothers are over from abroad this month so that is what I intend to do
Has any one any experience of what is likely to happen once this drug is withdrawn?