Stopped Memantine

ReineckeB · August 20

Hey everyone! So I just wanted to share a bit of my journey with my Mom with Dementia. We were giving her Memantine and the whole time she was on it she was having vivid dreams that woke her up and made her really upset in the mornings. We consulted our doctor and we stopped taking it. There have been fewer wake ups and no bad dreams. It has been so difficult to figure this stuff out! She doesn't seem to be any better with the meds anyway so stopping it really didn't concern me. It is supposed to slow down the progression so that makes me a little nervous. But her dreams were really troubling her. She is still taking the other dementia medicine and is doing ok. We just had to move it to the morning instead of at night.

I am feeling a little fatigued with care but I am taking time away from home a couple evenings a month. Trying to do something I enjoy and with people I enjoy. I worry constantly about if I am doing everything I can for her. I worry about her happiness and her comfort more than I should according to my husband. LOL! But I want her to be ok. I want her to feel safe and happy as much as she can. I know that we are not far from the day when she will need more help than I can give. That will be another post! I need advice!

Anyway, just a small glimpse into my journey. How are you doing? Post here if you need to just vent!

SusanB-dil · August 20

A lot of us get concerned if we are 'doing enough'. Comfort and safety are the driving factors. Their happiness is often nondescript (just an observation) and can vary from one minute to the next.

Glad you are taking time for you. Very important! And is paperwork in order? DPOA and HIPAA…

You can also check into adult daycare for mom maybe a day or three a week (we call it the senior center).

SDianeL · August 21

my husband’s Neurologist said Memantine might increase his focus but didn’t mention that it would slow progression. I saw no difference while he was on it. I doubt it would slow the progression more than a few months. I would have taken him off of it if he had side effects. Glad you are able to get away. It recharges you.

harshedbuzz · August 21

@ReineckeB

Memantine can help some PWD function a bit better in their day-to-day lives, but it doesn't impact the actual progression of the disease in the brain.

HB

Colacho10 · August 21

How long was she on Memantine before she stopped? I read about the drug a lot, and it is shown to be effective in slowing the progression of dementia for about 12-24 weeks. After that, its efficacy tends to decrease.

It is not a cure, and it doesn't work for everyone, so it's good that you are focusing on her comfort and happiness. Keep it up!

Ronk246 · August 21

My opinion, to know if this or any drug is helping, I would need two DWs, one taking it and one not taking it. I'm doing OK with one wife, but I could not survive with two!

Maru · August 24

It ended up that my DH couldn't take any of the 3 main drugs (including the Exelon patch). He had reactions to all of them. I like what Ronk246 said, you can't really know how these things will benefit your LO unless there are two of them. Regardless of studies, you never know how a drug will act on the individual until they try it. If DH were younger, we might have taken a chance on the new infusions, but he is 90.

I think you will question every decision that you make now, because you are IT. That person you always relied on to help in decision making is broken and unreliable. Be brave. You can do this.

Stopped Memantine

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