Hello! I'm new to Talking Point and I need a bit of advice.
My mother is 95 and my father is 92. My mother was diagnosed with Alzheimers nearly two years ago after a fall. Before that she was very active and they were very independent, doing their own cooking and cleaning etc.
Now my mother is looked after 24/7 by my father with assistance from my sister and myself who both work full time. Carers come in morning and evening to get mother washed and dressed etc.
Yesterday she was seen by the Community Psychiatric Nurse and a doctor who have prescribed Aricept to make her more relaxed and to stop her from constantly being on the go sorting through cupboards and "preparing food" in some way.
Reading the bit of paper accompanying the prescription and discovering the side effects, my question is:
What are the realistic side effects of the drug?
If mother were to get diarrhoea and/or sickness it would make life intolerable for father as mother is already a hypochondriac.
Any comments based on experience would be helpful!
Joan
My mother is 95 and my father is 92. My mother was diagnosed with Alzheimers nearly two years ago after a fall. Before that she was very active and they were very independent, doing their own cooking and cleaning etc.
Now my mother is looked after 24/7 by my father with assistance from my sister and myself who both work full time. Carers come in morning and evening to get mother washed and dressed etc.
Yesterday she was seen by the Community Psychiatric Nurse and a doctor who have prescribed Aricept to make her more relaxed and to stop her from constantly being on the go sorting through cupboards and "preparing food" in some way.
Reading the bit of paper accompanying the prescription and discovering the side effects, my question is:
What are the realistic side effects of the drug?
If mother were to get diarrhoea and/or sickness it would make life intolerable for father as mother is already a hypochondriac.
Any comments based on experience would be helpful!
Joan