Posted by mary on September 30, 1999, at 19:16:45
In reply to Re: Aricept, posted by acm on September 27, 1999, at 15:18:28
I currently take 10mg of Aricept(prescribed by a neuorlogist. A brain scan shows some abnormalities most probably related to that seen in depressive individuals not those with Althzeimer's) Originally, I took it in the evening. The resulting intense dreams were extremely disturbing and way too realistic. When I woke up, I often carried the events of the dream into my life. I remembered dream details so vividly that I expected things to happen in real life that had occurred in the dreams. I have since swtiched to an AM dose and the number of intense dreams is diminished but still occurs occasionally. I have been on the 10mg dose for at least one year. I am taking it for memory loss - I keep asking things I've just asked about, I use wrong words and, for a while, prior to taking Aricept, I would write the wrong thing. I have a reasonably strong vocabulary but find that I am more likely to use simple language and nondescript vocabulary like "thing". I also work with language disabled children maybe they are rubbing off on me. At any rate, I have taken Ritalin in the past to help with lapses in concentration, magnified by major depression. I did notice an increased ability to concetnrate, stick with a task and complete a decent professional evaluation. I do not receive the same from Aricept. In fact, now that I am back at work with the new school year, I have consulted with my pdoc about adding the Ritalin again.
Bottom line, for me, Aricept has no effect on concentration and minimal positive effect on memory. Maybe I would have more memory problems without it. Falling asleep was not a problem the vivid dreams were!
Good luck.
Mary> > My doctor and I have been competing for the "craziest idea" award. His latest random thought: donepezil (Aricept), a cholinesterase inhibitor most commonly used for Alzheimer's disease and other dementias.
> >
> > Does anyone have experience with this sort of drug? If so, what have you used it for, and what happened? I'm also worried about the possible side effects, especially effects on sleep (though Parnate may counteract that).
> >
> > Thanks.
>
> There was a study done at the University of Rochester (NY) sleep lab in January 1998 that tested Aricept on clinically depressed people who had problems sleeping. I was a part of it. In fact, I went there because I couldn't sleep, they screened me, and that's how I first was diagnosed with depression.
poster:mary
thread:11584
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/19991016/msgs/12360.html