News on Alz drugs

Lucille

Registered User
Sep 10, 2005
542
0
Hi all

Just seen on the news that Nice have decided to recommend that Alz drugs should NOT continue to be provided, in certain cases, because of cost.:mad:

Unbelievable!

So, whilst money is spent on chasing prisoners who have been let out of jail, our loved ones are left in their own prison. It disgusts me.

The news report stated that charities will appeal. I sincerely hope that with support from carers, professionals and others with a vested interest, they succeed.
 

Katy

Registered User
Jul 21, 2004
1
0
Lancs
NICE are SO wrong

I have also just heard the news flash about Aricept. What can we do. What about a mass rally Katy
 

Helena

Registered User
May 24, 2006
715
0
Many of the decisions from Nice and across the health service seem arbitrary and unfair

Patients with Hepatitus C which is not caught thru stupidity or unprotected sex etc are denied treatment and face getting liver cancer as a result wheras anyone here or who can walk in from any country with HIV and AIDS which in majority of cases was totally avoidable and be given thousands of £s of drugs and treatment without question .

I do though have to wonder what the real benefit of some Alzheimers drugs are but then I am looking at a 90 yr old whose quality of life is zero who is hell bent on wrecking others lives through beligerant refusal to co operate in any way
 

Brucie

Registered User
Jan 31, 2004
12,413
0
near London
I do though have to wonder what the real benefit of some Alzheimers drugs are but then I am looking at a 90 yr old whose quality of life is zero who is hell bent on wrecking others lives through beligerant refusal to co operate in any way

joanne said:
when you have seen one person with Alzheimer's you have seen one person with Alzheimer's

Age counts.
Stage counts.
Condition counts.
Situation counts.

trouble in the case at present that the only thing that counts is the accountant....:mad:

And there is another thing, from the point of view of a carer: even if it may not work, you just don't want to take the chance of not trying it.

A few months, weeks, days, even hours gained is worth it.

A carer, and in particular a spouse, can be pushed over the brink themselves if they don't feel they have been able to at least try things that might make the difference.
 

Lila13

Registered User
Feb 24, 2006
1,342
0
I keep thinking, if my mother hadn't been given Aricept she might have been still alive ...

Lila
 

Lucille

Registered User
Sep 10, 2005
542
0
"Age counts.
Stage counts.
Condition counts.
Situation counts"

Bruce, I couldn't agree more. Particularly poignant having just read your 'highlight of the day'

Best wishes
 

Kayla

Registered User
May 14, 2006
621
0
Kent
My Mum has been on various drugs, including steroids for her rheumatoid arthritis for over 25 years. I can't help thinking that although drugs may cure or relieve one set of symptoms, they end up creating another set. The steroids helped reduce the inflammation of joints, but then Mum needed pills to protect her stomach from ulcers. These had to be changed after a while because one type could lead to stomach cancer. I think that Mum's Vascular Dementia may well have some connection with all the various drugs she's had to take over the years. She was given Haliperidol to control her hallucinations, but Matron said this was changed because it can sometimes make things a lot worse.
Our main problem is ignorance and lack of interest among the general public about the causes and types of dementia. We need to get people as interested in dementia as they are about cancer and heart disease. Charities have poured money into research for these conditions and many types of cancer can now be controlled if caught early enough. We must talk about the problems of coping with dementia and not be secretive or embarrassed about saying our relative is in EMI care.
Old friends, relatives and neighbours just seem to disappear into the woodwork once they realise what is wrong. It is the lack of understanding that makes life hard for us. I don't think there is a magic drug at the moment which will make much difference and sometimes the drugs might make things worse. We need to campaign for more research into dementia and give it a fancy name so we get support from the celebrities and media.
Quite frankly, the thing which helps my Mum more than anything, so she actually smiles and laughs instead of crying when I go to see her, is being able to stroke one of my dogs. She loves dogs and animals and this really cheers her up.
I'd also like to see more research into rheumatoid arthritis, which is an extremely painful and disabling disease, although many do not take it very seriously.
 

Norman

Registered User
Oct 9, 2003
4,348
0
Birmingham Hades
Lila

I keep thinking, if my mother hadn't been given Aricept she might have been still alive ...
Lila
My wife has been taking Aricept for 10/11 Years.I wonder where she would have been without them!!

Quote:
Originally Posted by joanne
when you have seen one person with Alzheimer's you have seen one person with Alzheimer's

Norman
 

Nutty Nan

Registered User
Nov 2, 2003
801
0
Buckinghamshire
What can we do?????

I don't know whether I feel more angry or more sad after hearing and reading about the latest shock decision from "NICE".
If I had a magic wand, I would need two wishes, not just one: I would eradicate this dreadful disease with one fell swoop, and with the next one, I would give it to every single member on the panel of NICE, and their nearest and dearest! I just cannot believe that anyone, absolutely anyone, could support the decision made today .......
True, not every drug is right for everyone. But the drugs in question have been proved to be right for many. They don't just help the patients, they are of enormous benefit to the carers and their families. And actually: they even benefit the National Health / Social Services departments, in that they unquestionably allow patients to be able to lead more independent lives and later to be cared for at home instead of needing expensive residential care.
My heart and my head feel as though they are going to explode with disbelief at this appalling state of affairs. As if the illness in itself was not enough - to then be told by some high-and-mighty *.*.*.* that it does not merit medication which is available at £2.50/day -------- :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

The question is: what can we do that we haven't all done before? Is there any point in writing yet further letters, when previous ones have been so arrogantly ignored? Where can we send these letters? MPs don't seem to have made any difference, NICE is just turning a blind eye and deaf ear. Is there, in fact, any chance that this decision might be overturned?

I am tired and tearful tonight. I feel as though I've hit a brick wall. I want our life back, but 'want doesn't get' ...... By tomorrow morning I will hopefully have my fighting spirit back. Please, someone, how can we win the next round???
 

connie

Registered User
Mar 7, 2004
9,519
0
Frinton-on-Sea
Come on Nan, not like you to flag.........spirits up sweetheart. WE WILL WIN IN THE END, if not, WHAT THE HELL AM I DOING.

Love to all, Con.
 

Nutty Nan

Registered User
Nov 2, 2003
801
0
Buckinghamshire
Daft question

Strange you should mention 'spirit', Connie (see my reply to your other thread.... i.e. that I have just poured the third ;) ).

But seriously: this might seem like a dumb question, but will Aricept, Exelon etc. be available privately once the 'ban' from NICE comes into force? And who will judge the criteria for prescription? (I expect it will be GPs, but how will this be monitored?).
 

connie

Registered User
Mar 7, 2004
9,519
0
Frinton-on-Sea
Nan, as I see it I don't think prescription for our 'loved' ones will be affected.

My concerns are for those coming along. I should hate to think people are being denied any form of help.

Where do we go from here?
 

Nutty Nan

Registered User
Nov 2, 2003
801
0
Buckinghamshire
Connie, I realise that we are the 'lucky ones' (???), at least in this context: I tried to cheer my daughter up earlier by reminding her that her Dad / my husband has had 5 years on ARICEPT, and since November, EBIXA has definitely given us another 'lease of life' - I just wondered about people who are yet to be hit by the latest NICE decisions.
 

Lila13

Registered User
Feb 24, 2006
1,342
0
Well, yes, of course, they work for some.

I was glad when it was prescribed, thought now at least someone believes us and is trying to help.

She probably saw the leaflet enclosed in the packet, read the word "Alzheimer's" and decided to give up.

Lila

Norman said:
Lila
My wife has been taking Aricept for 10/11 Years.I wonder where she would have been without them!!



Norman
 

mocha

Registered User
Feb 17, 2006
176
0
89
Lancs, England
ebixa

Nutty Nan,
Do you have to buy the Ebixa that you say your husband takes. I do and pay about £2.50 a day for it. My Hubby has been taking it now for almost 2 yrs. The trouble is I know he's deteriorating but afraid of stopping the Ebixa wondering what would happen. I did try halfing his dose and he began wandering in the night again.
 

Margarita

Registered User
Feb 17, 2006
10,824
0
london
mocha

My mum on Ebixa mocha we live in London & do not have to pay for it .

If I was you I would not cut down on the Medication ,
Once you got it up to 2 tablets 2 times a day, that’s what my mother been on for the last 2 half year .

why do you want to cut it down anyway ? deteriorating you say
in what way ? & how many tablets did you give him before you tried cuting it down ?

I think if you did stop the medication it would be best to tell your doctor First ,so it could be done in hospital , as do you feel you could cope with the side effect of him coming of the medication on your own ?

I do hope NICE is not stoping Exbixa ,

Have to read up about it,

As I know if my mum did not take Exbixa she would trun back to the wondering & being incontinent & not knowing where the toilet is & who I am .

And if they did stop altogether I am sorry to say this but I would not be able to care for my mother & that would make me very angry & I would go to the paper, the new, the lot .

We carer have to get angry who the hell does NICE think they are? To stop medication
 

mocha

Registered User
Feb 17, 2006
176
0
89
Lancs, England
Margarita

Thanks, what I wanted to know was Ebixa available on prescription in different parts of the country. My Hospital trust will not prescribe it free and as NICE won't release it , I wondered how they did it. I buy ours on the internet from London and as I say it costs me about £2-50 a day for 2 tablets. one morning and one night. It was my husband's specialist who said I could try halving it[just because of the expense] but after 2 days I went back to 1 twice a day as he started wandering as I said.
 

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