Re: Introduction and a question

[Guest guest]

This is a good question for the prescribing MD. Hallucinations are part of LBD.

Sometimes Aricept can cause hallucinations (though it's unusual). I don't think

you can know for sure unless the Aricept is removed.

>

> Hi everyone. My name is and my mom has just been diagnosed with LBD, or

at least that's the current hypothesis. I will write more later but right now I

have a particular questions about Aricept. My mom was put on 5mg Aricept daily

about 6 weeks ago. She tolerated it quite well - no GI side effects. Just lately

she has been saying she hears voices at night - always the same ones - my voice

and a man she doesn't recognize who is a " bad man " . I am wondering if there's

any way that Aricept is contributing to this. She does not tolerate drugs very

well.

>

> Thanks for your help - I'll post more soon!

>

>

[Guest guest]

, aricept (donepezil) is a drug for mental, cognitive clarity, such as

reasoning, thinking, understanding, and communicating.  it is not a drug for

hallucinations, delusions, illusions, or emotional problems.  5 mg is a low

dose of aricept- my wife kay (59, possible LBD), is on 5 mg.  you need to ask

your dr.  what to do for other aspects of this illness.  LBD is a combination

of motor skill,  cognitive and emotional problems.  it usually takes a team of

people to stabilize things.  i'm ( after 2-3years ) still not hooked into a

good neurologist but getting closer.  don't give up.         ( san

diego) 

Subject: Introduction and a question

To: LBDcaregivers

Date: Sunday, January 29, 2012, 9:26 AM

 

Hi everyone. My name is and my mom has just been diagnosed with LBD, or at

least that's the current hypothesis. I will write more later but right now I

have a particular questions about Aricept. My mom was put on 5mg Aricept daily

about 6 weeks ago. She tolerated it quite well - no GI side effects. Just lately

she has been saying she hears voices at night - always the same ones - my voice

and a man she doesn't recognize who is a " bad man " . I am wondering if there's

any way that Aricept is contributing to this. She does not tolerate drugs very

well.

Thanks for your help - I'll post more soon!

[Guest guest]

Hi , welcome! My mil recently was prescribed Aricept for mild dementia, not

necessarily LBD. One of her side effects was " vivid scary dreams " so she was

advised to take it on starting her day, rather than at bedtime which is what was

initially prescribed. That timing has been discussed here previously, with the

thought that since it is a cognitive stimulant it makes sense to take it when

arising rather than at bedtime! She had other side effects as well, couldn't

tolerate it so it has been discontinued.

You will find much support and experience shared here. The best to you as you

join the ride that is Lewy Body.

Snadra

> >

> > Hi everyone. My name is and my mom has just been diagnosed with LBD, or

at least that's the current hypothesis. I will write more later but right now I

have a particular questions about Aricept. My mom was put on 5mg Aricept daily

about 6 weeks ago. She tolerated it quite well - no GI side effects. Just lately

she has been saying she hears voices at night - always the same ones - my voice

and a man she doesn't recognize who is a " bad man " . I am wondering if there's

any way that Aricept is contributing to this. She does not tolerate drugs very

well.

> >

> > Thanks for your help - I'll post more soon!

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone. Thanks so much for your help. She lives in a very small town in the

midwest, and although the diagnosis was done at Mayo, her prescibing neurolosist

is the one I have to deal with. The neurologist has said she doesn't think it is

the Aricept and that taking her off of it could cause other problems. However,

the suggestion that she take it in the morning is a good one, so I will ask the

doctor to do that. Beyond that I will wait and see a while longer. Thanks for

all your support on this subject.

[Guest guest]

My father is 80, and exhibits many clear symptoms of LBD. Other than short term

memory and confusion/recognition, his first most acute symptom was

hallucinations. The first medication his neurologist put him on was Aricept

(donepezil-generic) 10 mg, which he has always taken around 6 pm. He also

continues to take Axona, a medical food supplement in the form of a shake, every

day after his first meal. His hallucinations faded very quickly with that

regimen. They return only infrequently.

What is more common now is not recognizing anyone in his life (his wife of 60

years, his home, his surroundings) and the consequential anger, frustration, and

paranoia that follows. He has also been having more and more vivid dreams which

cause him to shout out, cry out, act out during the night.

Three things have been added to his regimen as a result. First, " the diagnosis

of REM sleep behavior disorder often is based on complaints from the patient's

bed partner. This disorder responds to clonazepam (Klonopin), 0.25 to 1 mg at

bedtime, although use of this drug may be limited by ataxia and morning

sedation.2,20 Management of the REM sleep behavior disorder is reported to

improve fluctuations in cognition and markedly benefit quality of life for

patients who have dementia with Lewy bodies and their families. " -Dad takes

half of a pill later in the evening, before bed, which is the .25 dose. He is

having excellent results and very little side effects, other than sleeping later

in the morning. -Sometimes till noon, but he had already done that on some days

anyway.

Second, the Aricept has been increased to 20 mg/day.

Next, in a few more days, we will add Namenda, a gradual titration (I think is

the term) where the dose is increased after a week or so. If we observe

improvement, great, he'll continue. If we observe no difference, or negative

side effects, we are to stop the Namenda.

So, we'll see how this settles in and works for him or does not.

I just wanted to give you another experience to consider. Mom and Dad live

nearby and no longer drive anywhere. Both are 80, Mom recently had a pacemaker

'installed'. They live alone with no daily care visitor. Thus far, Mom manages

Dad most days, redirecting his behavior and keeping his routine steady.

-Ida