Donepezil and Memantine

Stan2

There have been several questions recently about these two. I have even responded to some of them but I have another question. Some have said that they have seen no affect from these drugs but if they are only meant to slow the progress of decline and Alzheimers progresses so much differently from patient to patient, how do you determine the effect or lack of effect, of the drug ?

Carl46

No idea. The drugs were tested on a large group of people and the ones who got the meds did better as a group, so they were approved. I give them to DW because her PCP and two neurologists said it was the best treatment available. She might get worse if she stopped them, but we couldn't know if she would have gotten worse anyway.

All I know for sure is that she is progressively declining despite the best care I can get for her, and that this will continue for the remainder of her life.

midge333

@Stan2 : Since these drugs only slow the decline, there is no way to tell if the drugs are working in an individual patient.

SDianeL

no way to tell. But if there are no side effects I would go ahead and give them. My DH was on Memantine and I saw no difference.

annie51

My DH has been on memantine for a long time now. I agree with SDianeL that as long as there are no side effects, it’s worth a try. It may have given him a couple of years of slow decline, but really no way of knowing. His PCP said more people have issues with Donepezil so they never put him on that one.

Carl46

The meds don't really slow the decline. The date of death will be the same, with or without them. But in some people, the meds enable them to be more functional for several years.