What Drugs Should Be Avoided With Lewy Body Dementia?

What drugs should be avoided with Lewy body dementia?

Neuroleptic drugs, especially older agents

, should be avoided in patients who have dementia with Lewy bodies because they may cause severe reactions in more than one half of these patients and are associated with increased mortality.

What triggers Lewy dementia?

Lewy body dementia is characterized by the

abnormal buildup of proteins into masses known as Lewy bodies

. This protein is also associated with Parkinson’s disease. People who have Lewy bodies in their brains also have the plaques and tangles associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

What is the average lifespan of someone with Lewy body dementia?

The life expectancy of individuals with dementia with Lewy bodies varies; people typically survive about

5 to 7 years

after they are diagnosed. REM sleep behavior disorder may be the first sign of dementia with Lewy bodies. It can occur years before other symptoms appear.

What prescription drugs are linked to memory loss?

A number of prescription and over-the-counter medications can interfere with or cause loss of memory. Possible culprits include:

antidepressants, antihistamines, anti-anxiety medications, muscle relaxants, tranquilizers, sleeping pills, and pain medications given after surgery

.

Can you take Seroquel with Lewy body dementia?

There is rarely a need to treat hallucinations if they do not cause agitation in the patient, which is often the case in dementia with Lewy bodies. The atypical antipsychotics clozapine (Clozaril) and quetiapine (Seroquel)

may be better tolerated, but they have less evidence of effect

.

Levodopa continues to be the primary symptomatic therapy for the parkinsonian symptoms of all Lewy body disorders

. However, over time, levodopa dyskinesias or motor fluctuations may develop. Concerns about these levodopa complications have erroneously led some physicians to postpone the introduction of levodopa.

New evidence shows some anti-depressants can raise dementia risk

. Certain antidepressants and bladder medications are linked to increased risk of dementia, according to new University of East Anglia research funded by Alzheimer’s Society and published today in the British Medical Journal.

While a short daily walk is a great foundation for an exercise routine, some patients prefer other forms of activity. Recommended tasks include

gardening, guided gym work, and dance classes

.

Dementia with Lewy bodies results in a decline in thinking, reasoning and independent function. Fortunately,

CBD can be helpful

. According to Dementia Care Central, “CBD can be an effective anti-inflammatory agent, reduce motor symptoms (tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia) and maintain circadian (sleep) rhythms”.

Lewy body dementia can occur alone or along with other brain disorders. It is a progressive disease, meaning

symptoms start slowly and worsen over time

. The disease lasts an average of five to eight years from the time of diagnosis to death, but can range from two to 20 years for some people.

• Stage One: No Cognitive Decline. …
• Stage Two: Very Mild Cognitive Decline. …
• Stage Three: Mild Cognitive Decline. …
• Stage Four: Moderate Cognitive Decline. …
• Stage Five: Moderately Severe Cognitive Decline. …
• Stage Six: Severe Cognitive Decline. …
• Stage Seven: Very Severe Cognitive Decline.

Unlike Alzheimer’s disease, which tends to progress gradually, this disease often starts rapidly, with a fast decline in the first few months. Later, there may be some leveling off but Lewy body dementia

typically progresses faster than Alzheimer’s

. A patient can survive from five to seven years with the disease.

The Bottom Line

Prescription smart drugs, such as

Adderall and Ritalin

, have the strongest and most significant effects on memory and attention. Synthetic nootropic supplements like Noopept and piracetam are widely available, but research on their effectiveness in healthy adults is lacking.

• Donepezil (Aricept) is approved to treat all stages of the disease. It’s taken once a day as a pill.
• Galantamine (Razadyne) is approved to treat mild to moderate Alzheimer’s. …
• Rivastigmine (Exelon) is approved for mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease.

Commonly used drugs:

Valproic acid (brand name Depakote)

is the most commonly used medication of this type, in older adults with dementia. It is available in short- and long-acting formulations. Usual effects: The effect varies depending on the dose and the individual. It can be sedating.

Antidepressants can help if your loved one is depressed and irritable. Options include

citalopram (Celexa), fluoxetine (Prozac), nortriptyline (Pamelor), paroxetine (Paxil), and sertraline (Zoloft)

. Side effects of these medicines can include drowsiness, dry mouth, constipation, and anxiety.

Seroquel is not approved for the treatment of patients with dementia-related psychosis

[see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)]. Antidepressants increased the risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior in children, adolescents, and young adults in short-term studies.

Tricyclic antidepressants, especially

amitriptyline and dothiepin

,

¹⁶

are known to pose a high risk of death in overdosage. These drugs should therefore be avoided in older people whose medication is not supervised and who are at risk of taking an overdose.

• Aripiprazole (Abilify®)
• Clozapine (Clozaril®)
• Haloperidol (Haldol®)
• Olanzapine (Zyprexa®)
• Quetiapine (Seroquel®)
• Risperidone (Risperdal®)
• Ziprasidone (Geodon®)