My mother, sister and I have always had very vivid dreams. Dad somehow could never remember his and thought we were the odd ones. Well since he has been on Aricept he tells us about his dreams and I just thought it was more delusions... so you post was very helpful. Thanks. His HMO just switched him to a generic form and the dreams had stopped after about a year of aricept, now they are back with the new meds. I thought maybe the medicine change was causing it, but I'm going to point it out to his caregivers because this week he was "out there" talking about the Russians and shootings and X all of which happened when he was first on Aricept. So maybe the generic is stronger or ? But thanks for the info. I will go email his doctor now. Again. Thanks.
I can relate to your father. There are times when I have difficulty distinguishing between real life and what I have dreamed. Perhaps, but I'm not sure, it happens when I am suddenly awakened from the REM sleep without time to come out of the dream fully. I still find my dreams to be exciting--almost like I am living a double life! Unfortunately, there are times that they can be very scary, too. I have to be careful what I watch--even the news can cause scary dreams! It seems my husband and I are watching a lot of DIY and other building sorts of shows...I've even dreamed about building a bookcase! LOL
Be aware of what your father is watching on TV and see if any of it correlates to what he is dreaming.
Best wishes to you and your father! Thanks for responding to my blog!
Leah
My mother, sister and I have always had very vivid dreams. Dad somehow could never remember his and thought we were the odd ones. Well since he has been on Aricept he tells us about his dreams and I just thought it was more delusions... so you post was very helpful. Thanks. His HMO just switched him to a generic form and the dreams had stopped after about a year of aricept, now they are back with the new meds. I thought maybe the medicine change was causing it, but I'm going to point it out to his caregivers because this week he was "out there" talking about the Russians and shootings and X all of which happened when he was first on Aricept. So maybe the generic is stronger or ? But thanks for the info. I will go email his doctor now. Again. Thanks.
Generic drugs could be the cause. While the drug itself is the same as name brand, the delivery system is often different. So are the coatings and fillers. Sensitive people can be affected by this - particularly the delivery system.
I've known many people who have to go back on the name brand - your doctor should be told about the change because a doctor can push this through insurance.
My sympathy - my dad was "out there" a lot. I know what you are going through with that!
Take care,
Carol
Thanks.
I was getting ready to email my Dad's doc. this am. The HMO is Kaiser so I don't know if they will switch him back or not, it was a cost switch I'm sure and he his in the donut hole right now. But I hate to see him tormented like this. His eyes were all puffy like he had been up all night, so I know he is not getting his rest.
I think a doctor would switch him back. The cost is a problem - in the donut hole - but if a doctor says it must be done, I think they have to do it (I don't know this, but I've seen it happen with other insurances). There may be exceptions - but there shouldn't be. That is, in my opinion, inhumane.
Good luck,
Carol
I have been taking aricept for approximately a year. I started at the 10 mg prescription and immediately had vivid dreams. The third or fourth was very disturbing - lengthy with a trip down below the surface and I soon entered a very large subterranian space crowded with thousands of very disturbed people staring at me and moving the pile in one direction. I was able to break away and get back to the surface. My view upon awakening was that I had taken a trip to hell.
I discussed it thoroughly with my neurologist who also said it was normal and to be patient. I never had a dream thereafter anywhere close to the disturbance of that early dream. About a month later I asked to have the dose dropped to 5 mg.
My dreams over the last 10-12 months ahve been much more subtle, colorful, clear and understanable. About a week ago I raised the dose to 7.5 mg.. The last two nights my dreams have been very delighful and I look forward to more of these beginning tonight and thereafter.
By the way, my brain has been considerably more active since taking aricept - much more exploratory in memory (other than very short term, which is unchanged from the pre-aricept era), mathematical calculations, logic, etc.
I am a big believer in aricept and am extremely pleased with my neorologist's prescribing same. I have a diagnosis from him of "mild cognitive impairment". He had me tested for family markers for Alzheimer's using a blood test. I tested at Stage III of 4. 4 calls for a very strong indication of the probability of developing Alzheimer's disease
Hi, JIBG. It's wonderful that you are taking such an active role in your health. I, too, am a big fan of Aricept. It has helped me have a more clear mind. I have been able to develop classes for exercising your mind. I am able to work on a by-laws committee for my community. I just wish it would help my short term memory more. I used to be able to read four books at a time (not all at once, mind you! LOL); I could lay one down and pick up where I started with the next one, etc. Now, if I lay it down and don't back to it quickly, I have to start over... Looking on the positive side, I suppose it DOES save me money...
But, back to Aricept, I know it is NOT for everyone. Working with your doctor is a big plus! Enjoy your dreams! And thanks for responding! Hope you'll read and respond to other of my blogs!
Leah
Hi, JIBG. It's wonderful that you are taking such an active role in your health. I, too, am a big fan of Aricept. It has helped me have a more clear mind. I have been able to develop classes for exercising your mind. I am able to work on a by-laws committee for my community. I just wish it would help my short term memory more. I used to be able to read four books at a time (not all at once, mind you! LOL); I could lay one down and pick up where I started with the next one, etc. Now, if I lay it down and don't back to it quickly, I have to start over... Looking on the positive side, I suppose it DOES save me money...
But, back to Aricept, I know it is NOT for everyone. Working with your doctor is a big plus! Enjoy your dreams! And thanks for responding! Hope you'll read and respond to other of my blogs!
Leah
Moms been taking it for 4 days now. We were totally freaked out today! She's been incoherent dreaming on and off all day long. I'm glad I found this website. At least we know others have had similar experience. We thought this was supposed to help reduce her dreams and cognitive skills. This appears to be drastically worse on the 4th day. We are hoping some of this will diminish as described in some of the posts. We have already contacted the doctor to see if we should stop.
It must be hard to watch your mom going through all this. You were smart to call the doctor. I must say, after I realized what the Aricept was doing to my dreams, I have learned to just enjoy (most of) them. I hope you will read through some of my other blogs; they may give you some insight into what your mother is going through. Good luck!!!
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Hi Leah......I have been on Aricept for 7 years now. At first I had frightening dreams and I was taking Aricept in the evening. I started taking it in the morning and it alleviated the frightening dreams. I still dream but do not have the vivid dreams as I used to. I was fortunate that is the only side effect I had which could be alleviated. It is comforting to have good dreams of those who have passed. I am so pleased the Aricept is working for you. It is wonderfull to be able to have a medication that helps slow down the cognitive decline. Later down the road my neurologist added Namenda when he thought the time was right. With the combination of the Aricept and Namenda I am hoping I will have many more years in keeping the progression of this disease at bay. I was diagnosed in 2000 and still people will say.....you can not have dementia..you act so normal........see, the medication is working! Keep up the great writing my dementia friend.
Sandy
I expect that somewhere down the road another medication will be added to my regiment, too. As long as it can help slow down the progression, who cares?
I will try taking Aricept in the morning and see how that does. If it works, it's an easy enought solution!!!
It's great to hear that you are doing so well, Sandy. Keep up the good work! Thanks, too, for responding. I love hearing from you!
God bless!
Leah
Greetings. I'm a 33 yr old man, in great shape, but have suffered a number of head injuries in the past due to my occupation, military background and sports. I am suffering from memory loss, which seems to get progressively worse every year. My neurologist gave me some Aricept, and I took my first dose last night. I did not suffer any nausea or vomiting, although I did have -very- vivid dreams. This was not mentioned in the side effects; they were not nightmares, and I was aware that I was dreaming, but they were usually vivid, and seemed to last the entire night. I'm glad that your dreams help you spend time with your loved ones; maybe it will do the same for me. Regards,
- J
I hope so, too, J. You are sooooo young! Please take care of that head of yours! Aricept is known to cause vivid dreaming. If it gets too wild for you, see your doctor; there may be other meds out there better for you. God bless you! Hope all goes well for you. Feel free to comment on any of my posts.
Leah