Question:

Could discontinuing Aricept suddenly result in a marked decrease of functioning (increased confusion, hallucinations, loss of ability to carry on a conversation due to decreased awareness of place and time)?

Answer:

Discontinuing Aricept usually causes a decrease in cognition and function, unless the patient is at the very end stage, since the medication is no longer in the system to help. Sometimes Aricept can also be seen to help with behaviors like hallucinations which could become worse upon removal.

For more information:

Go to the Alzheimer’s Disease health topic.