Sundowners Syndrome

[Noonoosh]

Hi, my dad has Alzheimer and after recovering from pneumonia last month his Alzheimer has progressed to severe stage. He has the sundowners syndrome now and every night he gets anxiety, agitation, confussion, insomnia....i've tried playing his favorite music or tv shows. Turn all lights on, but now nothing works. I'm very tired and depressed now and quietly cry because I don't know what to do anymore. I took him to his doctor and called few times afterwards and he just prescribed xanax(which has no effect on dad's symptoms). Anyone experienced this? Any suggestions?


Sent from my iPhone using Talking Point

 

[Cat27]

Welcome to TP

I'd go to the GP again & ask for a different medication.

 

[pamann]

Hello Noonoosh, your Dad can be helped with the right medication, go back to his Dr. Does he have a mental health Dr. Your GP will not no the correct medication to give him, my husband has Mementine which helps with sundowning, my husband also takes Sertraline, anti-depressant. I hope this helps you.

 

[MollyD]

Hi Noonoosh,

Glad you found TP.

So sorry you and your dad are experiencing the distress of these awful symptoms.

I agree with the others, there are medications which can go some way towards easing your dad's symptoms.

Can your GP refer you to the community psychiatrist for the elderly for an assessment (I'm in Ireland so it might be a different title where you are)?

I had a lot of interaction with mum's GP at one stage re meds and found he took a one size fits all approach. He prescribed xanax too. Overall it did nothing for mum's symptoms, rather it increased her night anxiety because it doped her during the day.

As I understand it PWD don't suffer from insomnia per se. Their brain and thus body cycle has become out of kilter. It's a particular symptom. Meds targeting insomnia alone have minimal or neglible effect.

Each person's dementia symptoms vary. There are basic similarities but taking body chemistry and tolerance/intolerance in to account medications need to be administered accordingly and sometimes in carefully tweaked way. It can be trial and error in the beginning. Reading many posts on TP shows how varied people's responses to meds are.

Wishing you and your dad well. X

 

[Noonoosh]

Thank you all for your great suggestions. My dad's GP prescribed the anti-depressants, memantine, donepezil and xanax for him in top of all the other medications he takes for his heart condition. Maybe I trusted the GP more than I should!
With your suggestions I'm looking for a psychiatrist to take my dad, because the way he is every night I can't cope. I'll keep you posted.


Sent from my iPhone using Talking Point

 

[la lucia]

In England, you should be able to self-refer to the Community Mental Health Team. Look them up on Google for your area.

For specific dementia problems I always go to the cmht because they are the dementia specialists. I take my mother to the GP for general health issues. Certainly when it comes to medication I speak to them now because my mother's GP, although very good, doesn't have that in depth knowledge.

 

[Noonoosh]

I called several psychiatrists in my area and none of them accept Medicare! So I'm back with GP! However, I stopped xanax since this post and at night ask dad to do some drawings and I play his favorite music. I'll say his symptoms has reduced by 20% and at nights only he gets up and wander once! Even though, i'm still sleep-deprived but I'm happy he's a little better.
This website is my lifesaver, with reading all people's stories and posts I've realized I'm not alone!! Thank you everyone


Sent from my iPhone using Talking Point