Ellen - Re: Need help for dad

[Guest guest]

Ellen,

I'm sorry to hear your family has been added to a long list of us

who are dealing with LBD.

My father has a sleep disorder, called REM Sleep Behavior Disorder,

which is common in LBD. For him, he has nightmares about animals or

insects and such attacking him. He would physically fight them off,

get out of bed, act out his dreams, and think it was real when he

woke up, still hallucinating. (He'd been doing this for well over

20 years, and it had gotten much worse as the cognitive skills began

to decline.) His doctor put him on Clonazepam, which has managed it

quite well. We've increased his dosage only once in 2 1/2 years.

Is this possibly what your dad is dealing with??

>

> My dad is 74 years old and was dx'd with LBD a few months ago. He

> has had hallucinations and short term memory problems for a number

> of years but is fine physically. The biggest issues my mom is

> trying to deal with is the terrible night terrors. Doc told us

> these were hallucinations not nightmares and prescribed Seroquel.

> He told us to start him on 50 mg before bed and 25 mg during the

day

> as needed. We were told to increase to 100 mg at bed after 3

> weeks. When dad first started the 50 mg at bed, he slept most of

> the day for about 3-4 days, then started coming around. Last

month

> when we increased his med to 100 mg. he did much worse, so we

> reduced it back to 50 mg. He is having some trouble again at

> night. Mom told me that last night he was screaming and extremely

> agitated in his sleep at about 1 p.m. She told me he took

Seroquel

> at 9 p.m. After a long discussion tonight Mom and I decided to

try

> giving him 25 mg 3 times per day and 50 mg at bed. I would really

> appreciate any info anyone can share. My mom is having a very

> difficult time coping. I am trying to help as much as I can, but

> with 2 kids, one of whom is disabled, my hands are full most of

the

> time. Dad wants to be with mom at all times. I tried to convince

> him to come to my house for a visit tonight but he tells me he

won't

> leave Mom along because she is having such a hard time. Dad

> remembers his hallucinations and is trying to make sense of it

all.

> We tell him they are not real and he is totally shocked. We have

> tried going along with it and that made things even worse. I am

> hoping more regular doses of Seroquel through the day may help.

>

> I would really appreciate some help, we were given the

prescription

> and were basically left to figure the dosage out. It takes 2-3

days

> to get a call back from doc. and I feel people living with LO

with

> LBD are the most knowledgable and helpful.

>

> Thanks

>

> Ellen