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Thursday, December, 04, 2008

Question
EILEEN
07/08/08
EILEEN
Category:sleep medications

WHAT MEDICATION CAN AN ALZHEIMERS PATIENT TAKE TO HELP SLEEP AT NIGHT

MY MOTHER HAS ALZHIMERS AND I HAVE A VERY DIFFICULT TIME KEEPING HER AWAKE DURING THE DAY.  FROM 5 PM ON SHE WANTS TO GO TO SLEEP, WE HAVE TRIED ADVIL PM ETC. NOTHING SEEMS TO KEEP HER ASLEEP IN THE NIGHT.  SHE YELLS OUT REPEATEDLY EVEN AFTER I HAVE GONE TO HER EACH TIME, TO COMFORT HER. TWO MINUTES LATER SHE IS SCREAMING AGAIN.

WHAT CAN SHE TAKE TO MAKE HER SLEEP

 

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Answers (1)
ninamarczynski
ninamarczynski
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My husband and I are taking care of my father-in-law who has...

Friday, July 11, 2008

I think you would have to ask the doctor about the medication if it exists. However, changing the sleeping pattern is something an afvanced Alzheimer's patient will do. My father-in-law may be at this point yet but he is sort of ok except that he could get up very early at 6am if he goes to bed too early like 7pm!
This is part of the disease that they alter the sleeping pattern or wake up time. They have no idea it is day or night. You need to care for her when she is up. If you need to sleep, hire some caregiver or get someone else to take turns to take care of her. I imagine that she cannot be alone so someone has to be there. It is not a good idea to force her to sleep or change her pattern. I believe unless it is necessary, the sleeping pills or any pills for psychiatry is bad for her. Just my 2 cents. Usually the nursing home may try to force the patient to sleep. But if you love her, you don't want to force her into the regular schedule.

 

Just my 2 cents,

Nina

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