Those medications are only prescribed in the early stages They are supposed to slow down the progression BUT how do we really know if it slows down the progression. Everyone progresses at different rates. There is no real help for Altzheimers.

KerryAWill, I don't tell my family everything that goes on but when it is something that floors me I do tell them. They are like everyone else, they just don't know what to say.

@A myALZteam Member and @A myALZteam Member, the meds at first and for a while were helpful, hubby was on them for years. I did speak to the neurologist about stopping the meds and why, the neurologist agreed to wean him off. They are only meant to prolong the illness, my hubby started to get worse with nightmares, hullucinated, anxiousness and figity. I didn't see the benefits anymore. He's in the advanced phase in my opinion there's nothing more to prolong. @A myALZteam Member, I agree, everyone's situation is different. The meds worked well and with very little side effects for a long while but, for us, now that we are in the advanced phase, I strongly felt that the side effects outweigh the benefits. Ofcourse, with physicians guidance each situation is different.

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My husband took both Aricept and Namenda for several years. Near the end of his life, he was very restless and kept getting out of bed. His Neurologist told me to take him off of Aricept. He said that is designed to stimulate the brain and at this point it was not helping his memory, but keeping him awake. When I took him off of Aricept, he slept better.

Nancy, Aricept is the trade name of Doneprezil so they are the same medication. If he had one prescription for Aricept and one for doneprezil, he was getting a double dose and you need to talk to his Dr. Both names should be each bottle though.