Re: scared with questions/Aricept side effects

[Guest guest]

Dear Elise

My husband had bad reactions to Aricept - it seemed to affect his blood

pressure, he was extremely tired, he lost 10 kg of weight in a very short

time and he seemed spaced out. At times he could hardly stand up.

We stopped the Aricept and things did improve for quite a while.

Elaine (61) from Sydney Australia

Carer for husband Jim (82) who was offically diagnosed LBD Oct 2009, but

symptoms began at least 5 years before.

Jim died peacefully in hospital on 12th February 2011.

[Guest guest]

My Mother couldn't handle Aricept it made her extremely agitate and didn't seem

to work. We tried her on Exelon and it was almost a miracle drug. Her behavior

improved as well as her cognition. She didn't have any of the stomach problems

that are prevalent with Exelon.

in Dallas

>

> Dear Elise

>

> My husband had bad reactions to Aricept - it seemed to affect his blood

> pressure, he was extremely tired, he lost 10 kg of weight in a very short

> time and he seemed spaced out. At times he could hardly stand up.

>

> We stopped the Aricept and things did improve for quite a while.

>

>

>

> Elaine (61) from Sydney Australia

>

> Carer for husband Jim (82) who was offically diagnosed LBD Oct 2009, but

> symptoms began at least 5 years before.

>

> Jim died peacefully in hospital on 12th February 2011.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hello, I am Elise's sister ... just posting with an update on our father, who

has just recently been dx'd with Lewy Body Disorder. We changed the way he

takes the Aricept (switched from every evening to every other morning) and Dad

has been doing so much better. Last Saturday he celebrated his 85th birthday at

a party we held for him (80+ people in attendance ... we weren't sure how he

would handle it but he sailed through with no memory problems at all)!

Now we are undertaking the seemingly arduous task of developing a plan of care

for Dad. One of the biggest challenges seems to be getting past the dreaded " A "

word - Alzheimer's. All the resources we have available to us have to do more

with Alzheimer's than Lewy Body (local support offices, etc.) -- and while we

understand there is a great overlap concerning dementia-type illnesses, it is

going to be difficult I think to explain to our Dad why we are going to the

Alzheimer's Association for information. He understands there is a difference

between Lewy Body and Alzheimer's, as far as the way it presents and the

prognosis...and was even relieved to learn that his disorder WASN'T Alzheimer's.

The more I learn though, the more I am beginning to realize that any kind of

dementia is progressive and it's imperative to develop a plan of care asap.

So much of what I read on this forum is frightening. Our father is in the very

early stages; but I am grateful to have you all for support and reference.

Thank you,

Rita

Daughter of Jack, DX'd with LBD in May, 2010.