Delirium vs night terrors, what's the difference?

RetiredTeacher · October 5

My DH has VD and has interrupted sleep for over 7 yrs. I don't notice any afternoon or early evening agitation. He falls asleep within 5 min of hitting the pillow and is asleep for 60-90 min and then the up/down repeatedly going to the bathroom begins. 150 mg trazadone has helped decrease the uo/down frequency from 20+ to 5-7 but he wakes several times a night moaning, groaning, startling awake, confused, reaching out for me and appearing frightened. Is this delirium or night terrors? Have any of you experienced this? Is there anything that helps,meds?? Any suggestions?

Metta · October 5

Yes. DH had nightmares every night that “men were trying to kill him” for a month before the night he didn’t recognize me and pinned me in the shower (kneeling on the floor and begging him not to hurt me) while I called 911. Baker act from the ER to a week in the hospital for tests. Seroquel calmed him to sleep better with only a few tough nights over the past months when I had to lock myself in my home office until he calmed down.

I feel safer now that he is in Stage 7. Very sad.

I would be careful and have a safe room in the house. Prayers to you.

RetiredTeacher · October 5

Metta, ty for your comments. I will be careful. I'm wondering if it's a side effect from the trazadone or just another step down in VD.

trottingalong · October 5

My DH has more nightmares these days, but when he wakes up he does know me. Last week he was delirious in the hospital. He didn’t know me, didn’t know he was in a hospital and saw people walking upstairs outside of our room. There were no stairs. He wa Ted to call the police because he was being held hostage. I see a nightmare as something they can wake up from. But delirium is entirely different and what they see, feel and fear is not real.

RetiredTeacher · October 5

Ty. He definitely wakes up startled but within minutes is fine and seems to know me. Sometimes he talks gibberish when he wakes up. That's the only time these symptoms happen. I looked up possible side effects of trazadone and it was listed as an uncommon side effect, more common with higher doses. He takes 150 mg. May as Dr to try 100 mg.

RetiredTeacher · October 5

ronda b · October 6

My DH has mixed Ad and Vd. He has sleep troubles occasionally nightmares. He is on trazodone and seroquel that has helped

He still wakes up but no dreams.

RetiredTeacher · October 6

TY Ronda B. Do you mind me asking the trazadone dosage?

persevere · October 6

My DW recently developed all kinds of sleep issues with the constant up and down. Literally from dusk to dawn. Trazadone did nothing. And she’s on risperdone which used to help with sleep. Dr prescribed temazepam 30 mg. Out like a light. In fact, had him change to 15 mg and still worked fine. You have to move risperdone to a different time if using both.

SDianeL · October 6

my DH had those. I called them hallucinations caused by vivid dreams. I noticed that things on TV contributed to them so I monitored what he watched. He couldn’t tell the difference between dreams and reality. I would calmly tell him he was dreaming and go back to sleep. Sometimes that worked. He was put on Risperidone which helped.

harshedbuzz · October 6

Dad had nightmares/night terrors in the later stages. He was already taking Seroquel, Prozac and Wellbutrin at the time. We got relief by putting parental controls on the TV to prevent crime procedurals, extreme weather and news as his reporting of them hinted at those being the triggers. We never found a good answer to the fractured sleep pattern and it was part of why mom agreed to placement.

HB

ronda b · October 6

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/255426#Comment_255426

100mg and 50 of seraquel

RetiredTeacher · October 6

Ty all so very much for your personal stories. I have emailed his Dr to see if reducing dosage of trazadone, switching to a different med or a combination of both would be best. It's so difficult because DH does not want to go to the dr, refused referral to neurologist....as you can see I am going this alone on his behalf. I am trying to do the right thing for him and I also need to be able to sleep myself. Ty for your support.

midge333 · October 6

Seroquel helps with sleep disruption.

Delirium vs night terrors, what's the difference?

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