Sundowning

rachelsewell

My mum literally stays up all night pottering around. Has fixated with opening all her curtains and making her bed even though it’s night time she doesn’t even realise that its dark when she opens all the curtains. Her GP has put her on 4mg melatonin which she has been taking for 7 nights and they clearly don’t touch the sides.
She is superhuman. I have no idea how she can stay awake all night and not even feel like napping in the afternoon. She is now walking with a hunch back clearly from back pain being awake all night.
Any suggestions?

easy23

Good morning! Your mother may need more meds than melatonin. My husband's doctor put him on mirtazapine for sleep. He also takes risperidone for delusions and agitation. They work pretty well. Tonight was the first time in awhile that he woke up in the middle of the night. And even now, he went back to bed relatively soon.

M1

Welcome to the forum. Sleep fragmentation is pretty common and medication is usually necessary. Seroquel and risperdal both work well for this.

Lynn24

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/69948/sundowning

My mother is in late stage dementia and she takes Seroquel, 125 mg. We lock her bedroom door for a few hours after taking her medication to get her to settle down and sleep for 8 to 10 hours. She used to stay awake most of the night before doctor prescribed Seeoquel.