Have any questions about how to use the community? Check out the Help Discussion.

Medications

Mary Adams
Mary Adams Member Posts: 1 Member
in Caring For a Spouse or Partner
Has anyone added a second medication like memantine for memory and thought it has promoted a decline in memory and confusion?
I have considered stopping it for my husband but don't know if it's the med or just the quick progression of the disease.

Comments

  • Goodlife2025
    Goodlife2025 Member Posts: 306
    250 Likes 100 Insightfuls Reactions 100 Care Reactions 100 Comments
    Member

    Sorry for the changes you are seeing hopefully others may have some experience in this.

  • countrywife
    countrywife Member Posts: 31
    25 Care Reactions 10 Comments 5 Insightfuls Reactions 5 Likes
    Member

    DH’s first neurologist prescribed donepezil and memantine. Changed Dr who said he didn’t think the memantine was all that helpful and left it up to DH (and of course his family) as to whether or not to discontinue that Rx. Much easier for my DH to remember to take the single dose of donepezil first thing in the morning so that’s the route he took. This means I’m not regularly reminding him to take the evening meds which I think makes him feel better about life with greater independence. Pharmacist said donepezil in the AM was fine if DH tolerates it. I haven’t noticed much change in memory over the past couple of months without the memantine.

  • Snipe
    Snipe Member Posts: 5
    5 Care Reactions First Comment
    Member

    My DW takes memantine AM and PM plus the donepezil in the evening also. She has no side effects with them. I don’t know if either really help all that much at this point but, the thought is she tolerates them fine so we don’t change it for now.

  • charley0419
    charley0419 Member Posts: 527
    250 Care Reactions 100 Likes 100 Comments Second Anniversary
    Member
    https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/269878#Comment_269878

    my wife on same and seems ok

  • bjtm1969
    bjtm1969 Member Posts: 8
    5 Insightfuls Reactions 5 Likes 5 Care Reactions First Comment
    Member

    My DH is on same regimen for 2.5 years as Snipe and Charley 0419's wives with no side effects. Since there is no way of knowing whether they actually help, we will continue for now. Good luck trying to figure out the best drugs for this stage in the journey.

  • Chance Rider
    Chance Rider Member Posts: 273
    250 Care Reactions 250 Likes 100 Comments 25 Insightfuls Reactions
    Member

    My husband also takes Donezepil and Memantine, both are 10 mg twice daily. Since he has no adverse side effects we’ll continue, plus we’d probably have to stop one or both to see if we notice a difference.

Commonly Used Abbreviations


DH = Dear Husband
DW= Dear Wife, Darling Wife
LO = Loved One
ES = Early Stage
EO = Early Onset
FTD = Frontotemporal Dementia
VD = Vascular Dementia
MC = Memory Care
AL = Assisted Living
POA = Power of Attorney
Read more

Community Guidelines


Click here to review the ALZConnected Community Guidelines

Categories