Pat, did it help while he was on it? I'd be interested because Carl is rapidly losing weight and they are telling me there is nothing they can do...although he is not eating because they say he has forgotten how...? I don't know, but I'm going to look into this, I'll post if I find anything. Mel

This is interesting:

http://www.annalsoflongtermcare.com/content/strategies-improving-care-patients-with-advanced-dementia-and-eating-problems-full-title-bel?page=0,3

Mel, He never took the medicine. The prescription was filled and it is very expensive. Our insurance finally covered it. i am going to go to the site that you sent.
Saying there is nothing to do breaks my heart. I have spent the last week talking to or looking up anything that I can find. I hope we can find something. pat

I know Pat, my heart breaks with you. They didn't paint a very rosy picture for me. I get so aggravated when I hear that attitude of theirs. I hope you have better luck with a doctor. If there is any possibility at all that it could work, they should try it and just wait and see. What can it hurt? It's the cost that is so depressing also.
Keep me posted ...I'll try to do the same.

Well, I just talked to the head nurse at the nh about Carl and this med. She told me they tried Remeron which is supposedly just like this one but with less side effects. His blood pressure got really erattic and they had to stop it. His appetite did not improve on it anyway.

I hope it works better for your husband. He is nowhere near the stage Carl is with his dementia. It's at the end for Carl and they believe he is not eating because, well, I guess he just doesn't know how anymore. Eating means nothing to him. I cannot imagine the brain being so gone, it does break my heart. I am so blessed that my father passed away before any of this stuff could make him suffer so...

I'll be hoping and praying that you have good results Pat....praying you both have a happy, healthy new year. xo

The only thing I know about megestrol acetate is that it is a progesterone hormone used to treat endometrial and breast cancer. However, I looked it up and found that appetite enhancement is one of the side effects. I'm surprised that is being prescribed for a man.

Thanks to all of you anwering my post. I am still struggling about giving it to him. We have an appointment Monday with the pc and I am hoping she can work with us to see what can be done. His neuro just thinks anything that can be done has been done. We are waiting on home health to come out and tell us what help they can give us. pat

Pat, here is another website with another view. Just good to know all the opinions and test results.

http://www.jfponline.com/Pages.asp?AID=5286

sorry dont know that med but i am new to this whole thing and would like to talk to others

my mom is on three psychotrophic drugs and they are helping contact so we can talk