Expert: Alanna Shaikh - 1/9/2009

Question
My mother is at stage 6e. Her appetite is good and so is her mood, but I see
her coordination going away in her body and mouth when eating. She is on
Aricept, Nemenda, a blood thinner and a cholesterol-controlling drug. Her
neurologist said I could take her off the Apricot and Nemenda, but that she
would take a slide. Today it really struck me when I had lunch with her--she
wouldn't want this way of living prolonged with drugs.What do you think and
can you tell me where to read more about it?

Answer
Dear Kate,

Your mother is very lucky to have someone who cares so much about her.

I don't think that the Aricept or the Namenda are prolonging her life, just her cognitive capacities. If I were you I wouldn't discontinue them. Your could probably discontinue the cholesterol drug, and maybe the blood thinner. Talk to your doctor about it. I am not a health-care professional, so I can't give advice.

The Alzheimer's list-serv - http://alzheimer.wustl.edu/adrc2/alzheimerlist/ - might be a good place to look for more information on making medication decisions like this.

Please feel free to get in touch if you have more questions.

Best,
Alanna