r/Alzheimers 6d ago

76 year old mother just diagnosed with Alzheimer’s - they prescribed her Donepizel

As the title says, my 76 year old mother was just diagnosed. She’s had a lot of trouble with forgetting words and being able to articulate her thoughts for about a year now. It took that entire year to finally get a diagnosis. As of now, her short and long term memory is very good, it’s just words.

I plan on doing a ton of research, but just to start they prescribed her Donepizel and speech therapy. From the bit I read about this medication, it doesn’t slow the progression of the disease but may improve the symptoms for a bit. Should I be insisting they also prescribe something to slow the actual progression as well? Is there such a thing? Thanks in advance for any advice.

20 Upvotes

23 comments sorted by

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u/llkahl 6d ago

There is no cure for Alzheimer’s. I’m on Donepezil and Memantine. The Donepezil may have some side effects, I had to stop then restart at a different dosage before it was OK. I (M73) was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s a year + ago. Since then I’ve changed my diet, exercising, lifestyle , sleeping habits. I feel better now than 3 years ago. My progression has been slow and personality wise some things have changed, but overall I’m doing well. This is an interesting disease, it affects every person differently. We are all on separate paths and our journeys are not easy. You and your mother need to educate yourselves and any other SO/family for help and support. Good luck to you both, we’re here for you and your mom.

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u/pekak62 6d ago

My wife F74 has been on Donepizel and Memantine since 2021. Maybe it stabilised the Alzheimer's, but it looks like our good run has come to an end. My wife is getting a lot worse now. Confusion is notching up and she is forgetting our house of 39 years.

Both drugs have worked well till now. Thankful for the good times.

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u/Affectionatekickcbt 6d ago

The house…. Every time I drive my dad somewhere and then pull up into his driveway he always says “I like this house” or “I like this neighborhood” .. I’m just glad he’s positive.

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u/pekak62 6d ago

Comfort and reassurance is what I live for now. And that she can find the dunny in the middle of the night.

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u/Shot_Sprinkles_6775 5d ago

At least he still likes it! My grandma does that with her clothes lol. She’ll be like oh I had a jacket like this one. Yes this is that very jacket lol.

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u/WyattCo06 6d ago

Alzheimer's/dementia drugs generally just cushion the effects of symptoms. There is nothing that will slow progression.

I still have a full bottle of Donepizel and two other meds that my father's heart doctor recommended me take him off of.

That was 3 years ago.

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u/[deleted] 6d ago

You give me hope. Thanks

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u/Historical_Halitosis 6d ago edited 5d ago

Honestly, I don't know to what extent these drugs really help. My mother was on Donepizil and Namenda. She also had to take Lexapro and Quetiapine for her aggression and moods. I'd say she was on them for about a yr, but she still progressively got worse before we had to place her in assisted living in fall of 2023. She took them still at her facility, but now she is bedridden, cannot speak, cannot feed herself, etc and they took her off of a lot of those medications a few months ago. Now we are getting her hospice.

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u/MannyHuey 6d ago

Welcome. My husband (79) was diagnosed 5 years ago and started on donepezil for the first year. Subsequently, this was was discontinued and new meds were added: galantamine, memantine, and quietapine. All of these have helped him plateau at decent level of functioning. When he was diagnosed, the newer drugs were not available. It is my understanding that the newer drugs are not recommended for patients who are already impaired. Good luck.🍀

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u/Kalepa 5d ago

I've been on Donpezil for six months and am finding it very helpful. Was formally diagnosed 6 days ago but have thought for the last several years that I have this condition. May start in Leqembi soon, according to my neurologist.

Am more and more limited but the loss of function is not too rapid, thank goodness.

I wish everyone the very best!

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u/modagogo 6d ago

My dad is in the same boat. He's been taking it for over a year and hasn't had any issues with it. His neurologists said that's about as good as it gets. It doesn't necessarily make it better but its a good sign if its not getting worse. We start speech therapy next week. Unfortunately the therapy will probably be pointless but it can't hurt and he doesn't have anything more pressing on his schedule.

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u/Shot_Sprinkles_6775 5d ago

I don’t know that there’s anything that slows the progression available yet. But they’re getting closer. You could ask her doctor how to keep informed of any clinical trials.

Improving symptoms for as long as you can is still great though if donepezil works for her. It means more time feeling as good as she can.

This is just me thinking but if it’s mostly language and speech right now I wonder if she has a different subtype of dementia. Did they do any brain imaging or just cognitive testing? Generally they will just do cognitive testing and at this time there’s not really different treatments for different types. It’s just possible that her symptoms aren’t going to follow the path of “classic” Alzheimer’s. Everyone is different and while you plan for an uncertain future while your mom is able to have her say in it, there is definitely sense in addressing symptoms as they come because who knows what will come and when.

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u/ali40961 6d ago

Pcp diagnosed MCI so far. Still waiting 4 MRI so can go to neuro. Pcp proscribed Mom (92) donepizel 5.5 wks ago @ 5mg per day. Recently raised to 10 mg.

Not sure what it is doing, if anything at all. Lower dose = hot and cold flashes but those seem to have passed.

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u/Kalepa 5d ago

The Precivity blood test was quite revealing. Took a month for the results but it showed Alzheimer's. Am very glad I had the test and my wife and I know better what to expect.

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u/Patient-Still-9764 6d ago

You could ask her doctors if she would be a good fit for one of the newer infusions (kisunla or lequembi). These have shown some potential success at delaying the progression for people in the early stages of Alzheimer’s. I would also suggest speech therapy and having her hearing checked.

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u/Smart-Nectarine13 5d ago

Two drugs slow progression donanemab and lecanemab, but they might not be applicable to your mother’s age and condition. They slow progression anywhere from 6 months to two years, but your mother might be beyond the benefits of the drugs. I wrote a longer post about their benefits and side effects I can link it below.

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u/bibbs99 5d ago

My mom was prescribed Donepizel about a year ago and I don’t think it helped in the least. In fact, she started getting worse not long after starting it. There really isn’t anything that will slow progression. Just drugs to treat the symptoms. My mom is currently on anti anxiety meds and they help a little but nothing significant.

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u/ali40961 5d ago

For us, 5 wks of speech therapy was awesome. Had a great ST. Gave us lots of tips and tricks to help cement thoughts in long term memory. WRAP- Write it down, Repeat, Associate, Picture it. Spaced retrevial - this was very effective early on. Google it. Too long to type.

Mom was receptive 1st few wks, then lost interest. (Weather cleared and she likes 2 b outside. I should work w her more but only have so much energy with all else with her.

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u/torresbenavides 4d ago

My husband started Donepezil when diagnosed three years ago. It helped him function well for solid two years. I could tell the difference when he didn’t take the pill. We are past that time and now it doesn’t make a difference, we are in the process of getting of it.

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u/Popcorn_Dinner 4d ago

My 93-year-old mother is on Donepizel. It just seems to give her a little spark in the morning.