Everything is a trade off. Given that your loved one has a
progressive, incurable and fatal illness, quality of life has to be
the guiding principal.

You can't stop what is happening to them - so all you do is make sure
the scene is set to keep them as comfortable, content and happy as
possible. The goal is palliative - to treat the symptoms and reduce
suffering - physical, mental, emotional and spiritual.

Quite often, the mood and behavior problems that go with the dementias
can make life living hell for the person, and for those who are trying
to care for the person. These factors are a major reason for
institutionalization. Not only is life a misery for the person who is
always upset, depressed, agitated, sleepless, enraged, delusional,
paranoid - or whatever  - but those things burn out their caregivers
entirely.

So yeah, sometimes, drugs - even drugs with side effects and down
sides - can be worth it. Everything has a price tag.

As with ANY fatal illness, sometimes the choices aren't pretty.

Personally, if a number of things have been tried, and nothing works
but the medications, I'd take the risk. I'd rather the person be happy
and content and perhaps lose a little time, than be miserable and
suffer longer.

M