- Introduction
- Diagnosis
- Treatment
- Prevention
-
Caregiving
- Coping with Emotional Changes
- Coping with Memory Loss
- Costs and Insurance
- Creating a Daily Routine
- Exercise
- Health and Wellbeing of the Caregiver
- Home Safety Adjustments
- Mental Exercises
- Respite Care
- Talking to Children about Alzheimer's
- Talking to Friends about Alzheimer's
- Telling Someone They Have Alzheimer's
- Transition to Assisted Living
- Transition to Nursing Home
- Work
- Related Conditions
- Resources
Q: Hello , this is my first question.Older age who have BPSD ,can give anti psychotic ?
Antipsychotics should be used carefully as they can have severe side effects, but they do have their place. Just work closely with your doctor and report any odd side effects experienced. Good luck,
Carol
Hi Nong Lumingkewas
I agree with Carol that antipsychotic medication can be used to treat older people with behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia. But as she points out their use needs to be carefully monitored by a doctor.
Here is some more information; a guide to antipsychotic medication use and Alzheimer's.
I also wrote a sharepost about some of the problems of antipsychotic medication use that you also might find helpful.
All my best wishes
Christine
Both Carol and Christine are right.
I would like to add that usually the doctors are reluctant to prescribe antipsychotic drugs until the late stage when the person is hard to be under control for toileting and etc. Even when they prescribe the drug, they have to monitor the patients carefully. My FIL is given low dose of antipsychotic drug. It is a matter of balance. If he is too combative, it is not good for him and thus he needs the new drug. He has heart issue so he cannot be too combative either. My FIL took antidepressant in early moderate stage, but the doctor dropped it until 2010 October. It is not a good idea to take too many pills and so they doctors have to watch out for it.
Definitely in late stage, such antipsychotic drugs are necessary to control their combative behaviors. In earlier stage, the caregivers can control the situations by not arguing/reasoning with the person. Distract him and etc. More activities... More peers. That is why some memory units/NH can offer more to the person than the private family. They have more activities that are better for the person with dementia.
Regards,
NC
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