I struggled with that decision too, but I kept mom on aricept and namenda. She still kmows us and I thought maybe taking the pills away she wouldn't. She has declined in many other ways. She can't hold her body up. So many other things, but she responds to us.
Who really knows if it's the pills or what keeps her knowing me and my husband.

My wife is on both drugs. My research tells me that you ususally take them off when in the later stages and they do not do that much. The drugs keep them functioning longer but they have a rapid decline when they stop working. Taking them off will speed the end.

I guess the med's are just like the disease.
It affects each one different.
It is confusing, even the doctors don't agree.
I have read several articles on Aricept and Namenda.
Aricept is for early stages and Namenda boost helping in the later stages.
It goes back to what most of us do. Follow our hearts.

Ron has declined dramatically in the last year. It was shocking how fast things went down. One year ago he was walking 3 miles a day, dressing ,grooming and taking care of his bathroom needs..
with just an occasional nudge from me.

Now.... he can barely walk the length of the driveway, cannot shower or groom himself.. has complete incontinence and is non-verbal.

2 -3 months ago our Dr. said I could stop the meds as they weren't helping any longer.. left it up to me. That is where the heart vs head dilemma pops in.

No handbook for this sad journey.

Fisherman55 - bless you for taking such good care of your wife.
I wish I had been able to travel with Ron in the earlier stages.

My husband had a panic attack at the grocery when we were at my mom's this weekend. Not only did I hug him and tell everything was ok but so did my mom and she's not a super touchy/feely kind of person, anyway, the point is I am keeping him on his Zyprexa. I have noticed if I give it to him around 4 pm, before it gets dark the sundowning isn't so bad. We had been out shopping and stuff so I didn't give him his meds at four and it had gotten dark so I am sure that is why he really panicked in the store. Lesson learned- he needs the zyprexa and he needs it BEFORE dark.

I will continue to give Ron the Ativan for the Sundowning. He just exhausts himself - starting about 5 PM otherwise. Exhausts himself and me - I should say.

How scary it must be for them..