Memantine

My mum had it and it helped hugely. Mum's behaviour was extremely erratic and she was given 5 mg (?) dose which was gradually increased to 20 mg. as I understand it the dose can be tailored to suit the individual.

What are the side effects that bother you?

My H has been on Memantine for some time now.
He has had no side effects unlike the first two drugs he was put on.
Although I cannot see that now that they are doing much good I was told last week by a mental health nurse that once someone comes off them ,deterioration can be quite dramatic so I think we will keep him on them.
I can only recommend that your mother takes advantage of it.

I was a RMN and specialised in diseases of old age. We used memantine, donepezil etc with very good effect.
My own father took donepezil and it gave me my Dad back for a good two years. I would encourage your mother to take it, you will certainly notice a difference. I wish you all well.

By the way memantine, galantamine and rivastigmine are distilled from snowdrops.

Dizziness, headaches and constipation are all possible side effects, and I don't want to add to existing problems if the benefits are limited for someone of this age.

Thanks for all your comments. We have a meeting with the CMAS practitioner today, to discuss the introduction of memantine. Some of your comments have helped me to see the drug in a more positive light.

My brother was put on it and yes he was closer to his old self for a couple of years. I would give it a try.

All drugs have side effects and the ones you mention are merely the more frequent ones, not ones she is guaranteed to have. There is nothing to say she will have any or all of them. Best to try the drug and see what happens and if the side effects are bad, she can come off it.

Can I ask why you said 'official' diagnosis? and what is CMAS?

Thank you!

kittylester - the reason I said 'official' diagnosis was because the family have noticed a steady decline in mum's memory and mental capacity during the past few years, but nobody mentioned the 'D' word, and there had been no actual diagnosis from a doctor. Fortunately our local NHS offers a memory clinic (CMAS - Community Memory Assessment Service), where, once I had referred her, she was given memory tests, a brain scan and an interview with a psychiatrist specialising in old age. After this, mum had the 'official' diagnosis via the GP. This, I believe, makes it easier to access Attendance Allowance if needed and other forms of help. CMAS have some practitioners who are prescribers can prescribe memantine. I'm not sure whether such a service is available nation wide. If it isn't, it should be!

Attendance Allowance is available generally for people who need it. I would recommend that you get AgeUk to help with filling in the forms as they know the buzz words. With an Alzheimer's diagnosis and attendance allowance there is an entitlement to council tax relief on the grounds of severe mental impairment.

The service you are talking about is available here but under a different name.

Memantine can be very helpful in managing behaviours in people with moderate to advanced Alzheimer's disease.

Community Adult Mental Health Services (CAMS) is the usual name I think.

CAMHS !

Thanks Teetime, I was trying to rearrange CAMHS to fit and it didn't! I was very tired!

What sort of dementia has your mum got grannyjacq1? Have you contacted the Alzheimer's Society - they are brilliant for advice and support. They also offer a Carer's Course in lots of places which provided lots of practical help and advice.

CAMHS could be confusing. In Scotland at any rate it stands for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services.

Thanks for all your advice. CAMHS is another department altogether - I think it's a national one. In the end, given mum's existing medical problems, and the fact that she is 94, my parents have decided that mum shouldn't take this drug. The CMAS practitioner agreed that this was the best decision given the circumstances. The diagnosis was for 'mixed Alzheimers and Vascular Dementia, predominantly Alzheimers of late onset'. They have been given plenty of advice and offers of help: the main problem is persuading them to accept it.

Just one more thing: is it usual practice to send a letter to a 94 year patient with Alzheimers/dementia to their home telling them that they have this diagnosis? The letter was very blunt, and clearly upset my mother. She knew she had memory problems, but not Alzheimers/dementia. I would have thought that a diagnosis such as this should be delivered in a more personal, supportive way.

The two lovely, gentle ladies, one the consultant psychiatrist, the other the community dementia nurse (an old colleague of mine) came to Dad's house to deliver the diagnosis in person. He took it very well, with just one year on his cheek. I think he knew it was his fate. Dad had mixed dementia (Alzheimer's and vascular). He was prescribed Donepezil, with really good effect, and was given two more years in his home before he needed full time care.
Sending a letter is quite rude in my opinion.

That's one tear on his cheek!