A new study has found a unique–and frustrating–side effect of a popularly prescribe Alzheimer’s medication: overactive bladder.
The medication is called Donepezil and is used to treat Alzheimer’s disease. It is a cholinesterase inhibitor drug and is prescribed regularly to help those with dementia and Alzheimer’s to combat the symptoms that are associated with the disease.
This medication helps improve communication between brain cells and can be helpful for enhancing the quality of life that those with the disease experience. It isn’t a cure, but it can help delay some of the more severe symptoms of the disease. Unfortunately, the side effects of this drug can be distressing, too. Luckily, there are other medications out there that can treat this. If this isn’t an option, doctors have other options when it comes to medications that they can prescribe for those that are struggling with dementia.
This research comes out of the University of Houston. The team recently published their findings in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
Almost all medications have side effects, and the older someone is and the more comorbidities that someone has, the more powerful these side effects can be. Sometimes, the side effects can seem worse than the illness, depending on what is being treated. Depending on what you are going through, it’s important that you work alongside a medical professional to manage these things. They might be able to help you find a solution that works for you or makes life a little bit easier.
There might not be a cure for Alzheimer’s disease, but there are things that can be done to help those that are suffering from it to live a higher quality of life. Medication is and should be a part of this. If you have a loved one that has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or you suspect might be suffering from cognitive decline, working with a doctor to find the right steps forward for treatment is important. Not all cognitive decline is dementia, and not all dementia is Alzheimer’s. Some of these things are completely treatable and curable and some are not. Either way, a doctor can help get you steered in the right direction.
When dementia is the diagnosis, having the right team is incredibly important. There are so many things that need to be considered, and medical care is only part of the equation. Finding the right team to help you and your family get the help needed when it’s required is a must.
Memory care is a complex thing. Those suffering with dementia have a unique set of needs and those providing care require a good deal of training, love and patience. Each one of our caregivers have received this training, and we do our best to pair our caregivers with the individuals that we think they will work best with.
As always, we’d love to hear from you. Please get in touch by phone, email, or comment below to get the ball rolling and learn more about who we are and what we do.
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