Chronic solvent-induced encephalopathy - depression

Eeve

My DH's dementia comes from Chronic solvent-induced encephalopathy, which is not meant to be progressive once to solvent exposure ceases, but no improvement has occurred in the 4 years since his diagnosis. He is equivalent to a mid-course Alzheimer's case. He walks, and gathers firewood mainly, after a long interesting career which he can no longer do. He drives a mile to the farm stand and buys himself chocolates and bananas, and I discovered that he also goes to the nearest liquor store and buys large bottles of cognac. I removed a full one, and found an empty in the basement, then saw the charges on his credit card. This can not be good for him. I'd like to stop the driving, as it is not the very safest, but he has managed to make these short trips without getting lost, and they make him feel more functional.

I wish I could find ways of treating his depression and anger. For a couple years he took Wellbutrin, initially to quit cigarets, which he did, but I learned that many antidepressants can contribute to depression, so we stopped it. Today he is quietly miserable, despondent, and refuses to discuss it, or to eat, which would cheer him a bit.

Has anyone had success with treating depression in dementia?

Thank you! 

JJAz

Eeve wrote:

I learned that many antidepressants can contribute to depression, so we stopped it.

This statement is not supported by medical evidence.  If he has depression, he probably should be treated with an SSRI antidepressant.  Talk to your neurologist.

Stuck in the middle

I have taken antidepressants for 25 years and would not gladly do without them.  What does contribute to depression is alcohol.  I wonder if the drinking is his way to attempt to medicate his depression.  Stopping the alcohol and resuming the antidepressant would be a good idea IMO.

Eeve

Thank you, I am planning on discussing with his doctors.

Eeve

I agree wholheartedly, especially since his Hep C, which was treated in the spring, seems to have been detected in recent blood work again. I think/hope this will deter him from cognac.