FOR GREGORY. He was not a VICTIM of ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE, he was a HERO!

PLEASE NOTE: Even though this blog is now dormant there are many useful, insightful posts. Scroll back from the end or forward from the beginning. Also, check out my writer's blog. Periodically I will add posts here if they provide additional information about living well with Dementia / Alzheimer's Disease.

Wednesday, March 28, 2018

Antipsychotic Drugs and Dementia

Marie Marley, Read this article and thank you thank you thank you. It is the first one which I have read (or seen) which handles the topic of psychotropic drugs realistically.

Usually the drugs are condemed for being used to over-sedate a person on behalf of making it easier for the caregiver or caregiving facility. Also the finger is most often pointed at the possibility of causing premature death in the elderly and that the research (and drug company) does not support its use.

With the help of our doctors, nurses, hospice, and health care facility; I decided to put my Gregory on a very low, vary carefully monitored dose of Risperdal. He was becoming more and more unhappy, agressively acting out (but not violent,) and agitated.

We tried to see what we could change in his care routine and in our comminications (given his inability to work much with language) but were not successful being able to help him to be more comfortable with his life.

The mild dose of Risperdal gave him a new life, one in which he was again content and enjoying his life (given the circumstances.)