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He has been on namenda and aricept for 20 years. A palliative care doc advised me to wean him off of these two. Famimly doc says ok, but his condition will deteriorate a lot faster. He is functioning, but ADLs are slipping. He can’t read, can’t drive, won’t shower, wears dirty clothes, won’t leave the house.


Should he come off these drugs or not? Now it seems like a moral dilemma.

What are the reasons given to withdraw his medication.
That will be helpful.
Really, in general, and in terms of advice, you should consult legal experts (Attorneys), Medical experts (docs) and financial experts (financial concerns) for questions in those fields.
You are new here. You won't find doctors, attorneys and financial experts on this forum, just a bunch of caregivers. So do know that your discussions with your doctors about their reasons to give or withdraw medications will be crucial. Also not easy.
There is really no cure here.
You are looking to hope to stop progression being rapid and you are looking to relieve symptoms.
Again, Welcome to the Forum.
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Reply to AlvaDeer
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I'm sorry for his worsening symptoms and having to now ponder whether the meds are doing much or anything. I did some researching online and could not really find anything that definitively said those meds work well beyond 5 years. I don't know about the weaning off protocol -- his doc should be consulted for that.

Because of his alcoholism, has he ever been checked for Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome? Alcohol blocks the absorption of an essential vitamin, creating a deficiency which causes dementia-like symptoms. If caught early, it can be treated but if not caught early it is permanent... Maybe this is what he had all along? It's astonishing that he survived 20 years with ALZ, even being on meds. May you receive peace as you make decisions in his best interests.
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Reply to Geaton777
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I'm sure those medications do not mix well with alcohol, thus the reason dh should be weaned off of them. If your husband wants to speed up his demise with booze, that's fine because what's the point in lingering on for another miserable 10 years or whatever, where you'll have to place him and spend the family nest egg to do so. Follow the doctors advice and let dh choose his own way out. If I'm diagnosed with dementia, I'll swallow a bunch of pain pills with a big glass of whiskey and save myself and my family the heartache and expense of the Long Goodbye.

My condolences on your situation.
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Reply to lealonnie1
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Sadly, I have extreme experience in this situation.

As I read your question and backgrounder, I understood your situation as NOW your husband is 15 years sober. Otherwise, how on palliative care, not driving, diminished ADLs is he getting his alcohol?

(I’m thinking that with the diagnosis news, your husband was completely depressed with his terminal situation and how it would affect you and your relationship and he turned to alcohol to “ease the pain” which then depleted his B12… and all of the rest…)

Thinking that already your husband has undergone a battery of blood and urine tests and that his vitamin deficiencies, such as serious lack of B12 caused by years of alcohol consumption, (which destroys the brain and worsens symptoms of dementia) have been addressed.

Regarding Namenda and Aricept, in my experience, when my husband was taken off of both Namenda and Aricept after 8 years, there was no noticeable difference in his brain function. However, when he was taken off of those meds, he was given a very low dose of Zoloft to ease his depression and continue with B12 (METHYL not Cyanide binders), and D3.

if your husband qualified for palliative care, then listen to them. Trust , but verify. This is what you are doing now. I applaud you.

Your husband would never have wanted this life and you don’t either.

there will be moments where you don’t even think that your husband has dementia, he is spot on and clear. Just like that Nicholas Sparks The Notebook. Because your husband really still is inside.

And then, it all disappears. What???? Why? A true rollercoaster of emotions and reactions.

And yes, make certain all legal and financial areas of life are in order or in process.

I hope that this helps in this heartbreaking journey.
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Reply to WhatWouldNanDo
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