Another Side to the Discussion of Anti-Psychotic Drugs - My Mother's Experience

Hi Dorian

thank you for sharing your experience with the drug and it's possible side effect. My husband is not on that but many others. Sadly I have to say he is now in Home Hospice. They have determined because of the combination of Alzheimers and congestive heart failure his time is now short. He is having organ failure. The best they can do now is keep him as pain free as possible. This is so hard watching him suffer. I now pray for God to enfold him in his arms and take him home this is the only way for him now. Thank all of you for being so wonderful. I sit by his bed love him care for him and still come here for the comfort and support you all are giving me. This has been really hard but I have peace in my heart knowing that soon my husband will be in heaven watching over us all. He will not have to go through much more of the agony of losing a little more life each day from alzheimers. Congestive heart failure will take him. Pray for us it is just a matter of time now. Connie

My sister and I are in exactly this situation with our mother: going back and forth on whether to continue the anti-psychotic drug or not. Thanks for the personal story to help us consider all the pros and cons.

   My mom has always had a very strong personality.  She is 95 years old, although you would never know it.  She is physically strong and she can still walk well.  For the past year and two months, my mom who has alzheimer's disease has been on Seroquel, an anti-psychotic, black box drug.  Her doctors, my sibling and I all agree that this is the best choice for her.  When I think back to the 6 months prior to her taking this anti-psychotic drug, I know that we have made the correct decision.  During those six month, I was subjected to her rages and threats.  As a 93 year old, in one of her rages, she picked up a large piece of wood (thick and at least 2 feet long) and told me to get out or she was going to kill me.  She said things to me during these rages that were so terrible that I can't repeat them.  For 6 months, she was an extremely unhappy person and she made my life miserable.  For my family, seroquel was a dream come true.  She is now calm and happy.  She is living in an alzheimer's unit now and even has a boyfriend!  On a recent hospital stay, a doctor (not her own) cut her seroquel dosage dramatically for two days.  Within one day, I noticed a difference in her.  My mom became combative and aggressive.  She was miserable, and mean to everyone who crossed her path.  She was completely unhappy. Fortunately, I was able to convince the doctors and nurses that things were just going to get worse if they didn't give my mom her usual dosage.

  So I guess there are definitely two sides to every story.  For some alzheimer's patients, like my mom, the anti-psychotic drugs enable them to enjoy their life.  I feel that quality of life is far more important than quantity.