Did the Antidepressant make my DH worse? Need some advice please.

jbrocks

My DH was diagnosed 4 years ago. Back then he was able to drive, run his computer, use his smart phone and manage the TV selector. Fast forward to now, he is incapable of doing any of the above, thinks there are people sitting in our house. Last Sunday I came home the front door was wide open and I spotted him walking up the street toward me, he didn't recognize me until I got close - he started to cry because he thought he had died. He described his day as follows: people were keeping him in the house… he "escaped" and he went down the street into someone else's house, sat down and watched TV and no one would talk to him, got up and decided to come home. That's when I found him terrified. Now, 4 days before this, his doctor prescribed an anti depressant for him (mirtazapine) 30 mg dose. He took it and and he was WASTED! I almost called the paramedics - he couldn't talk, slurring his words, wandering around the house - didn't know where he was. Finally fell asleep and seemed back to normal the next morning. I called his doctor though and was told that I need to start looking for a memory care and that there's nothing more he can do for him and to give him half in the morning and half at night. THANKS A LOT! He never took that medication again. It's been two weeks his hallucinations are still there. He had hallucinations prior to the medication, but NOTHING like what he's experiencing. SO, could the medication still be in his system or did the medication make him worse? Should we look for another doctor?

Carl46

I have taken antidepressants for nearly 30 years, but not the one you mention. I don't think the medication is still in his system and I don't think the medication caused his hallucinations to worsen. He might benefit from an antipsychotic medication, but it sounds like your PCP isn't the one to prescribe that. A geriatric psychiatrist might be of help.

Not the question you asked, but it seems your LO can't be left alone anymore. Your PCP's suggestion to consider placement in memory care might be good advice.

trottingalong

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/71594/did-the-antidepressant-make-my-dh-worse-need-some-advice-please

Most anti depressants take 4-6 weeks to fully be effective. After one dose the odds of it still being in his system after that length of time would be non existent I would think. The dose may have been too high, which caused him to be “wasted.” It seems more like your DH symptoms of the disease are progressing. Personally, I would be looking for another doctor. There have been other threads on this topic of hallucinations and drugs prescribed. I’m sorry you are going through this, it must be overwhelming.

harshedbuzz

@jbrocks

A single dose of Remeron might have caused sleepiness that was short-lived. Had he continued to take them as prescribed, that side effect may have disappeared as he got used to the medication. For hallucinations and disturbing delusions, a stronger atypical antipsychotic is usually prescribed. These can be taken with an anxiety/depression medication if also needed. If your DH is not seeing a geriatric psychiatrist for medication management, it might be useful to find one. While PCP and neurology can prescribe, geripsychs are the specialists in this area.

It's not really clear from your post whether what you are seeing is actually a delusion or a hallucination. Dad had both. His early hallucinations were auditory— he reported hearing kids upstairs. Later he saw people— once he told me not to sit in a chair because his lawyer-golf buddy was already sitting in it.

Delusions are false beliefs. Dad would report, as fact, all manner of things he believed had happened but didn't. To my ear, that sounds a bit like what you are describing here. Another thing that sounds familiar is his reporting being held captive and thinking he was dead. Dad did this. He reported being kidnapped and killed pretty regularly. It turns out he was watching mom's crime dramas with her and conflating them as not only real but happening to him. We had to police what he watched on TV using parental controls. I blocked not just the crime shows but also news and TWC as he believed he was involved in all he saw.

HB

midge333

I agree with @Carl46 . It sounds like your DH has progressed. I agree he should no longer be left alone. He would likely benefit from an antipsychotic like seroquel (Quetiapine). It is also time to start checking into memory care.

Biggles

I would get another Doctor, don’t let anyone tell you what you should or shouldn’t do. My DH reacts very badly, including hallucinations, to any new medication and I have found doctors only care and know so much. You are your DH’s protector, carer and decision maker back your own judgement. Your DH sounds as though he is progressing ‘normally’ down this horrible road. It becomes a 24/7 caring role. Good luck.

SDianeL

call the doctor! My DH had a terrible similar reaction to Mirtazapine!! The Neurologist said not to give him any more! She changed him to Risperidone which worked music better. Low dose. Some of what you describe could be progression. Sometimes happens rapidly.