Medications that can be dangerous for dementia

Welcome to the place where I share dementia tips, strategies, and information for family members caring for a loved one with any type of dementia (such as Alzheimer's disease, Lewy Body dementia, vascular dementia, frontotemporal dementia, etc.)

In today’s video, I talk about medications that are commonly prescribed to people with dementia even though they can be extremely dangerous. These medications have something called a Black Box warning meaning that the FDA has determined that these medications have high rate of serious negative side effects. If someone with dementia has some "difficult" behaviors, it is not unusual for one of these medications to be prescribed. You can learn more about these medications and their side effects in this video so you can be more informed when you talk to your loved one's doctor.

Agitation and Irritability in Alzheimer’s Disease: Evidenced-based Treatments and the Black Box Warning.

Antipsychotic drug use since the FDA black box warning: survey of nursing home policies

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In case you haven’t met me, my name is Natali Edmonds and I am a board certified geropsychologist. That means that I am a clinical psychologist who specializes in working with older adults. One day, while hiking a trail, I came up with the idea for Careblazers and I decided to see if posting videos online could provide help to the many other Careblazers in the world who don’t get to have help come directly to them in their homes. I hope that this work helps you in some way on your caregiving journey.
#careblazer #dementia #dementiacare

In today’s video, I talk about medications that are commonly prescribed to people with dementia even though they can be extremely dangerous. These medications have something called a Black Box warning meaning that the FDA has determined that these medications have high rate of serious negative side effects. If someone with dementia has some "difficult" behaviors, it is not unusual for one of these medications to be prescribed. You can learn more about these medications and their side effects in this video so you can be more informed when you talk to your loved one's doctor.

Agitation and Irritability in Alzheimer’s Disease: Evidenced-based Treatments and the Black Box Warning.

Antipsychotic drug use since the FDA black box warning: survey of nursing home policies

[jaime]

My loved one was prescribed antipsychotics BEFORE he received the dementia diagnosis. This leads me to believe it was dementia related behavioral issues all along. I wish his psychiatrists would have requested a scan earlier on. He still takes zyprexa. It helps him stay calm I think. He does hallucinate still but it comes and goes. He has FTD and is slowly getting worse. To anyone who has a loved one with any form of dementia.... 🤗 hugs ❤️

[cforestfox]

My grandmother is on Seroquel and in my opinion she is much calmer and experiences less hallucinations while on the medication. She is otherwise very anxious and wanders a lot and also sees people or animals in her house that aren’t there. So for my family, we have found it helpful. She is also never left alone, so falls are very rare. Really appreciate your videos, always very informative!

[joannetate]

Bless you, for taking the time and making an effort to put these videos together. As a registered nurse, I recognize and appreciate your value to caregivers, including in healthcare settings. I can see that you helped so many caregivers! Wishing you the best in your continued efforts to help others. ❤

[anamirsajedin]

This was so helpful to hear! Perfect timing as I was in the middle of making the decision to give or not, my LWD was prescribed Risperdol this week, when I saw the warning it made me pause and question, talked it over with her doctor and my siblings and we have decided not to use at this time. And listening to you reinforced our decision! Thank you!!

[barbaracarr]

My mother-in-law passed away six years ago. However, during her last years she was prescribed Zyprexa. She had a history of bi-polar disorder and took lithium for many years. During her last couple of years she became very agitated and sometimes violently so. She seemed to do better on the Zyprexa and lived to the age of 91. Now I am taking care of my own mother who is 99. She is now exhibiting mild difficult behaviors--difficult for me. I do not think she needs medication for this. I'm working on using tips learned in the Careblazer care course and finding they help me cope rather than trying to change my mom. Everyone's situation is unique. It's wonderful that we have access to all of Dr. Natali's expertise. So helpful!

[nealpaige]

Mirtazapine has been a life savor for my loved one .

[anngardner]

We used Seroquel with my FIL after a few years and he turned from living in fear which caused aggressiveness and paranoia to being much more content. Life improved for all of us.

[suekeller]

My husband has been on seroquel, abilify, zyprexa and mybetric. All negative reactions. He became lethargic on some, hyper on others. The response of the doctor was okay, wean him off. No particular concern over the black box warnings. So frustrating. Now I ask about any scrip and refuse to put him on any black box drug. Be aware, be your loved ones advocate.

[citysurviver]

My loved one is on 3 of them. I’m in shock over this. Care conference tomorrow and will discuss.

[BenjaminGib]

And it’s very difficult to get her to actually take the medicines even trying lots of methods. So it’s an added stress just that kickback.

[jannalynn]

Excellent video and advice. Thanks so much!

[judymanning]

THANK YOU. Just had this issue ! the liquid wasnt black box on bottle!!! the 2 were seroquil and haldol(halspidol) mom alz had violent limb movements for hours. I was so scared. Off haldol back to normal. Mom at home on hospice. I mention you on the facebooks I'm in. Thank you so much for caring 🍀😘

[marchassilverreclinerrepor]

My wife has been on Risperidone for nearly a year now and it has really helped with her Hallucinations and such but the darkness still gets to her, so lots of lights on are a help.

[lindalapierre]

My loved one was restless, violent and anxious. She was prescribed zyprexa and at first I thought it wasn’t working and 2months in it she has become calm and less anxious. For my loved one it’s helped.

[debbieray]

Thank you so much for your advice I have been in this situation has been. This has been so hard. They are always kind and doesn't have a problem.

[bobstride]

My wife is on Quetiapine, Paroxetine and Risperidone but she has begun to be aggressive to the other residents and care givers. They have tried other strategies to help her but she gets so upset in the afternoons which is making the medical staff think about psycho-geriatric care.

[Sentimentalist]

Thank you for your very informative videos!!

[BenjaminGib]

Mom has been on Haldol and Seroqhel for 5 weeks and we are not sure if they are helping overall but she is desparete her anger and rage behaviors are so bad, it’s literally killing us. We have been caring for her and trying no drugs over 4 years.

[BettyGrin]

My husband was prescribed 2 of them without talking to me about it. These medications made he lethargic and sleepy and I believe to his early death. No behavioral therapy was ever done. Just gave him the medication and then left to die. He enter nursing home for physical rehabilitation and within less than 3 months he was dead. Dr. refused to talk to me after several attempts to contact him to talk about the medications. He is an exclusive nursing home doctor and has no regular patient practice. He is just a government paid pill pusher. He didn’t care at all about his patients.

[olololo]

My relative 91, slightly confused but not crazy, developed difficulty breather after catching covid from her two fully vacxed and boosted aids that come to her house.
She had to go to the hospital major Hartford Hospital-from there everything went down hill. She was placed into isolation with nurses that all come in wearing full gowns, visors and mask and gloves so its hard to understand who they are and hearing them. They also do not speak her native language (she is an immigrant)and so she couldn’t understand what they wanted from her to do.

She is allowed only one person to visit per day for 30 minutes (totally inadequate). She responds well to family and praying together.

We asked the RNs to call us anytime there was a miscommunication but they have yet to do that. Instead they gave her Haldol withoitbour consent and only after prodding them and finding access to her chart we found it out. It made her look drugged. So we declined and asked repeatedly to not give her antipsychotics. Found out a few days later they gave her two doses of Zyprexa. Upon one evening visit she was actively hallucinating and touching things that aren’t there. Very thirsty and they didn’t have any drink for her. Neither her call button or personal cellphone are not in her reach. She is stuck, drugged and on top of that they gave her dementia questions when she was drugged up, she could barely explain where she was or what her name is.

We again asked for the antipsychotic meds to be stopped.

Also her onset of Covid was 20 days ago and they are not retesting her. She is suffering from the isolation, they turn off the lights, close the door and she just screams with the hallucinations. We are about to open a patient advocacy case.

Any suggestions?