Taking LO off medication??

Scooterr

     My DW has been on Namenda and Aricept since 2019, the first few years the medication seemed to be working, now it seems not to be working at all. I just don't know. Has anyone had a LO taken off these medications? If so was there any side affects, was there a drastic decline, was there no change, did the doctor wean them off, and  did they have to go back on the medication, or can they go back on it.

    We went to our primary care doctor last week and I asked him about taking DW off these med's and what may happen if we did? He explained to us, "I'm unable to answer the question, but if it's not hurting anything right now why stop, and this would be a question for her Neurologist." 

    In two weeks we have an appointment with DW Neurologist where I will propose these question to her. I'm just hoping for some information from anyone who has been down this road already, so I'll know what to expect. I'm just worried about the long term effect of the medication verses the AL.

Battlebuddy

Hospice took husband off those meds. Saw no difference

Rescue mom

My DH took both for about 14-16 months. He had no negative side effects. He did continue to decline, maybe he would have declined faster without it? No way of knowing. 

We stopped them when taking any/all meds became a problem and/or a fight. I hear, and read, a lot that they wear off, or don’t work at any level, after 1-2 years. No problems resulted from stopping them. I can’t recall if there was any “weaning” or gradual reduction of those 2, but I don’t think so. 

My attitude at the start was, they might help, they didn’t hurt him (some people see bad side effects), and we could afford it. When they became a problem we stopped them. Made no difference either way that anyone could see.

Marie58

DH took both for over 4 years. It didn't seem to hurt him but there's no way to know if it helped. Namenda became very expensive due to insurance changes and it probably wasn't helping anymore, so we stopped that first. Then we stopped Aricept shortly after that. I don't think he was weaned off. No changes in behavior, confusion, etc when we stopped.

Iris L.

The medication may enable the PWD to remain at home in the community, thus delaying placement into a facility.  If he is still continent,, you might consider to continue.  You might think of them as a tool in your arsenal of care.  Memantine is generic for Namenta and is inexpensive.  I pay $20 per month.  I cannot speak about Aricept.

Iris

Jeff86

DW has been taking both for five years.  

Impossible to say what benefit if any there has been as we can’t know the counterfactual—if progression would have been faster had she not been on them.  Only side effect has been a runny nose. 

I asked DW’s neurologist about stopping them.  She recommended continuing the meds, absent significant side effects, as in her clinical experience PWDs going off these meds often experienced a notable cognitive decline following cessation.   Just one opinion.  

Gig Harbor

My husband started namenda and aricept in 2016. Only side effect is a runny nose. I will keep him on them because he takes meds willingly and they may be helping him function better. He needs all the help he can get.