Expert: Paula Damgaard - 10/7/2010

Question
My mother has mid to late stage Alzheimer.  She has been on an antidepressant for 4 years, Effexor XR. We have had to up the dose to the maximum dose.  She has been crying and sad recently almost everyday.  I hate to change the antidepressant but maybe that is what is wrong. Any suggestions

Answer
Hi janet, I am curious as to what you mean when you say the highest dose?  

Having asked that.  Could be that no drug is going to "fix" this.  As the disease marchs through their brains it destroys all areas.  Sometimes it destroys an area and it presents itself in different ways.  Such as the crying.  Doesn't necessarily mean that she is sad or upset it is an involuntary affect of the disease.  

I know it is upsetting to you the family to see it, but if you can somehow reason with yourself that it is not HER it is the disease that is doing it it will help you.  

This is an awful disease for the patient for sure, but it is much worse for the family dealing with it.  I am sorry you are going through this.  If I can help you with anything else please do not hesitate to write.

Take care of yourselves first.

Paula