Is There a Time When Alzheimer's Medications Should Be Stopped?

A friend of mine recently wrote to me with a question regarding her mother's medications. Her mom's caregivers had suggested that she consider reducing or discontinuing her mother's medication that she takes for her Alzheimer's disease. Her mom has been gradually declining in her overall functioning and they wondered if the medicine really was still benefiting her.

So, what should she do? How should she make this decision? What's the best course of action?

Others in this situation have struggled with these questions as well. Some have debated whether medications are really helpful in the later stages, or they become concerned that the medicine prolongs the late stages of Alzheimer's longer than they otherwise would last without the interventions, and they question if that is a good thing. Yet, they don't want to hasten the decline of their loved one or feel like they're giving up on him. There's also the dilemma of continuing a medicine that has the potential for ongoing side effects, drug interactions and cost, while providing questionable benefits.

Many of you have been there, in my friend's shoes. What suggestions or advice would you give her? Please feel free to share by commenting below.

For more information and to read a summary of what research has concluded thus far, here's the article I recently wrote on this topic: Should Alzheimer's Drugs Be Discontinued in the Late Stages?

Also, here's some more information about the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, includin...

Source: About Alzheimers Disease - March 16, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news