Drugs to Treat Paranoia in Alzheimer Patients

Alzheimer's doesn't just take your memory; it can make you paranoid as well. This happens especially when the sun goes down. People with Alzheimer's become suspicious, thinking that someone is out to get them. The term for this is "sundowning," and no one knows why it happens. Some theories are because of dim lighting, shadows and lack of noise.

Doctors Prescribe Drugs

• Doctors prescribe medications to help Alzheimer's patients with paranoia issues, but in many cases, the drugs they prescribe do not help much. In fact, four of the most popular prescribed drugs cause death, heart problems, strokes, diabetes and other health risks. If you or your loved ones are taking paranoia medication for Alzheimer's, most of the drugs are not for elderly people with Alzheimer's.

Cholinesterase Inhibitors

• Cholinesterase inhibitors are a medication used to treat paranoia in Alzheimer's patients. They are approved by the FDA and are a safe way to reduce paranoia in patients without side effects. The downside of this drug is that doctors rarely, if ever, prescribe it, and if they do, it is only for three months. Cholinesterase inhibitors raise acetylcholine levels. When this level rises, there is more communication between nerve cells. Cholinesterase inhibitors have been shown to improve or stabilize Alzheimer's symptoms when used during the early or moderate stages of the disease.

Haloperidol

• Haloperidol, commonly called Haldol in the medical field, is one of the oldest forms of medication. It is widely prescribed for use in Alzheimer's patients, and it causes many side effects. This drug is for symptoms of schizophrenia, and it helps to control tics and unintended utterances. It is widely used for dementia patients. The warning for this drug is that it increases the risk of death if used to treat paranoia in dementia or Alzheimer's patients. The cause of death is linked to heart problems or infection. Haloperidol or Haldol is unapproved by the FDA for use in Alzheimer's patients, yet it is widely prescribed. Other side effects are drowsiness, dizziness or blurred vision. Haldol is contraindicated with some other prescriptions.

Risperdal

• Risperdal is another drug with dangerous side effects, but doctors prescribe it for patients with Alzheimer's. If the patient has early Alzheimer's, this drug may increase the risk of stroke, heart failure or death. It can cause blood sugar to spike This drug may contain phenylalanine, which is fatal if you consume too much. It can excite brain neurons to cellular death.

Zyprexa

• Zyprexa is another widely used drug to treat schizophrenia and bipolar, but many doctors prescribe it for patients suffering from Alzheimer's paranoia. This drug is another with many side effects. It is not for elderly people with dementia-related psychosis, although many doctors still prescribe it. Zyprexa increases their risk of death. In test results between Zyprexa and a placebo, the death rate over a 10-week period was 4.5 percent for patients on Zyprexa and 2.6 percent for those on a placebo. Zyprexa can also impair thinking or reactions and may be the cause of suicide attempts. Medications that interact with this drug include those prescribed for high blood pressure or heart conditions as well as Carbamazepine (Tegretol), Fluvoxamine (Luvox) or Parkinson's disease medications.

Clozaril

• Clozaril may have great benefits, but you should be concerned about the side effects. Doctors use this treatment only when other medications fail, or if a patient can't tolerate the other medications. If you take this medication, you run the risk agranulocytosis, or low white blood cell count; you will need your blood tested on a regular basis. Clozaril can cause inflammation of the heart muscles and cause blood pressure to drop dramatically. You're also at risk of experiencing a stroke or heart failure.

Check Drug Information

• If your doctor prescribes medication, please check all the side effects. You may not like what you read, and you do have the right to ask the doctor to find something different.