Tips Please!! for Dealing with Capgras syndrome

cw2502

My husband has been going back and forth between me being his wife and another lady he does not like very much.  I can’t pinpoint a trigger. I have read about Capgras and talked with the Hotline. He’s gotten to the point of accusing the “other lady” (me) of stealing his wife’s purse and wallet, using her computer and sleeping in his bed. Please give me tips on how you handle this. My DH still has enough thought to ask some tough questions about “the other lady”.  He also accused the other lady of trying to poison him; a med he takes for occasional back pain gives him cotton mouth and that was agitating him so he thought i was trying to poison him. Sometimes thinks I did something with his wife. He Is usually cordial and polite to “other woman” but tells her she’s becoming a problem snd will need to speak to his wife about her.  He expresses distress about the confusion and just wants his wife to return.  Hotline tells me to play the role as guest until the real me returns to him and not sleep in the master bed. I still work full time but am starting to work one day from home. Otherwise he is alone 5 days a week but no problems with that so far.  He spends most of the day in the yard. Have removed myself tonight from the home to try to “reset” him.  Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!

Ed1937

It might be possible to find a medication that will help with delusions, but it could take time to find the right one. I would check with his dementia specialist. Sorry you are going through this.

Rick4407

This behavior was what led us to Seroquel, just a small dose 25 mg daily.  It cleared up this confusion in my DW.  We eventually moved up but in slow steps after 2 years she remains both happy and compliant.  Rick

Gig Harbor

I don’t have any suggestions for dealing with his misperceptions if you being his wife. My husband doesn’t believe he has ever been married. I just wanted to say how quickly they can drop to a lower level of functioning. In a week my husband went from walking comfortably around our neighborhood to getting lost. Now I can’t leave him alone for fear he will walk out the door and get lost. He doesn’t even know our address. He thinks it is the one from 9 years ago. I would suggest getting a plan in place if you find yourself in this position since you have to leave the house to go to work. They seem to go on for awhile and then suddenly change.

BaldimoreBilly

So far, 12 years in, Capgras has been the most devastating symptom to deal with.  50 years of wonderful marriage, then out of no where my wife thought I was an imposter.  Fearful, aggressive.  She knew who everyone else was and friends were great,  But, not sustainable. Came close to calling 911 multiple times.  Now for the great news.  Our doc at Mayo suggested a low dosage of Seroquel.  She also started taking Zoloft.  It was a game changer.  Such a small pill (25 mg of Seroquel split 12.5 AM and PM. Incredible difference.  Not sure she always knows who I am, but aggression/anger completely gone!  She is now in a good mood most of the time.