NetWellness Alzheimer's Disease

Best Order and Times to Give Medications

Douglas Scharre MD — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 10:11:00 EST

Question: My 80 year mother has been diagnosed with dementia (possible Alzheimers). She has been prescribed Aricept 10 mg per day, Namenda 10mg twice a day and Risperidone .25mg twice a day. She also takes 81 mg baby aspirin, Crestor 5mg at bedtime. She also takes the following vitamins 1 centrum, 2 caltrate . . .

Answer: There is no need to space out taking the Aricept, Namenda, Risperidone, or vitamins. I would suggest to take the Aricept in the AM with the Namenda and Risperidone. Taking the PM Namenda and Risperidol together is also alright. The possible interactions of these drugs and basic vitamins are so minim . . .

Ask an Expert: Douglas Scharre MD, Alzheimer's Disease

26 Year Old Female

Douglas Scharre MD — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 18:11:00 EST

Question:

I am 26, and I noticed that I am losing my memory, especially short-term. I wanted to know how early is too early when it comes to memory loss?

Answer: There are many causes of memory loss. At your young age one may think of thyroid disorders, metabolic disorders, vitamin deficiencies, inflammatory conditions, and depression to name a few. It is important to ask your doctor about your problems and they can investigate. Good luck.

Ask an Expert: Douglas Scharre MD, Alzheimer's Disease

Time to Take Aricept

Douglas Scharre MD — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 00:08:00 EST

Question: When is the best time of day to take aricept? (e.g. morning, afternoon or evening)

Answer: Aricept stays in your system a long time and so it doesn't matter what time of day it is taken from an efficacy point of view. However, it should be taken about the same time each day. It also doesn't matter if Aricept is taken with or without food as it gets absorbed equally well either way. Some p . . .

Ask an Expert: Douglas Scharre MD, Alzheimer's Disease

Result of Brain MRI

NetWellness Staff . — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 11:08:00 EST

Question: I have reproduced below the Brain:MRI Report for my mother-in-law. I would like to know more about her condition, disease and possible cures.

"There is evidence of diffuse cortical atrophy involving both cerebral hemispheres with secondary enlargement of supratentorial sulci and cisternal . . .

Answer: Thank you for visiting NetWellness. On this site, NetWellness experts try to answer general questions about health. Only the health professional who ordered the tests should interpret the results. However, NetWellness may have some general information available that you can access through our Ask an Expert: NetWellness Staff ., Alzheimer's Disease

Memory Delay

Douglas Scharre MD — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 17:08:00 EST

Question: I have been experiencing a type of memory problem. At times when I am driving or even in the home, I all of a sudden forget where I am. I don`t know what direction I am supposed to go (even though I have a suspicion as to where to turn) or reconigize what is around me. But usually within 10 to 20 se . . .

Answer: This sounds like you are describing jamais vu. This is a temporary sensation of unfamiliarity. Sometimes you get a sensation that something is new to you even though you've known it for a long time. It can be getting very briefly lost in very familiar places. Probably between 40% and 60% of the popu . . .

Ask an Expert: Douglas Scharre MD, Alzheimer's Disease

Number of Years with Alzheimer`s

Leopold Liss MD — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 05:06:00 EST

Question: Can a CT scan determine how long a patient has been suffering from Alzheimer`s?

Answer: If you want to know if a CT scan can tell you how many years the disease has lasted, the answer is: NO, a CT scan cannot tell you. If you ask a more general question, for instance, is the disease "early" or "very advanced", then the MRI may be of help.

Ask an Expert: Leopold Liss MD, Alzheimer's Disease

Fluid on the Brain from Dementia

Douglas Scharre MD — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 18:06:00 EST

Question: My mother had a CT for dementia or alzheimer disease. The doctor said there is fluid on her brain. Is it dangerous or is the brain shrinking?

Answer: Unfortunately, it would be impossible to make any comment on a scan that I have not seen. If there is shrinkage of the brain tissue than fluid would build up in its place naturally and the excess fluid would not have any inherent danger. If the fluid is trapped and is blocked from circulating, than . . .

Ask an Expert: Douglas Scharre MD, Alzheimer's Disease

Death From Complications of Alzheimer`s

Rebecca Davis RN, LISW — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 14:06:00 EST

Question:

It was the first diaper change of the morning. To soothe my mother`s restlessness I started to sing. She immediately joined in. After the diaper change, she vomited unexpectedly and before I could turn her onto her side, she had inhaled. . . her breathing was a combination of gurgles, gasping, an . . .

Answer:

Dear Family: When I read the question you submitted to the NetWellness Ask-an-Expert site I was immediately touched by your tenderness in the care for your mother. The sweetness of singing with her to help ease her restlessness is demonstration of a caregiver who understands that Alzheimer's may . . .

Ask an Expert: Rebecca Davis RN, LISW, Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer`s and Risperdal

Douglas Scharre MD — Wed, 27 May 2009 17:05:00 EST

Question: Hi, My 83 year old mother has Alzheimer`s and we have tried different things to control her behavioral problems. It`s been about 2 months now and it seems like the medication is not working as well. She is on 1/2 mg 2 times a day. With that we still have to give her Xanax so she will sleep at night . . .

Answer: There are many alternative medications to Risperidal and Xanax. Some patients work well with them and other do not. Ask her doctor for other possible medication trials to help with her specific behavior issues. Xanax can be addictive and build up a tolerance so that a lower dose may no longer work a . . .

Ask an Expert: Douglas Scharre MD, Alzheimer's Disease

Advanced Small Vessel Change - MRI Results

NetWellness Staff . — Sun, 24 May 2009 16:05:00 EST

Question: The Impression on my husband`s recent MRI was:"1) Nonspecific foci of increased T2 signal in the white matter of the cerebral hemispheres. The differential diagnosis includes advances small vessel change and demyelinating disease. Clinical correlation is required. 2) The intracranial findings a . . .