Amen and amen, Baird! I hope her improvement sustains. That first week
almost sounds like having to knock the cobwebs off pathways that hadn't been
used in a while. It would have been tempting to quit. I'm glad for both your
sakes you didn't. And even if the improvement lasts only a short time, you
can know you have those moments together and the reassurance that you have
done everything possible for her.

Please keep us posted!

Songbird.

That is wonderful, Baird!  I had heard a couple of negative stories, but
hearing of someone it has definitely helped, is terrific.

My mother, a late mid-stage Alzheimer's patient who lives with us, is
now on her third week of using Memantine (Ebixa) which is the same
drug as what you call Namenda.  Like you, I try not to read too much
into the changes that I think I notice, and I am always happy when I
hear someone who doesn't live with her make the same observations.
Although her recovery, if you will, isn't quite as pronounced as what
you describe with your mother I also noticed a week or so of
confusion and what seem to be a worsening state.  After that however I
noticed that she seems to be recalling more short and long term
memories then before taking the drug.   She also seems to now remember
that she needs to do some tasks that she would previously forget to
do.  Here's just one thing I noticed: She really enjoys music and
loves listening to her CDs.  She wound up breaking her old player
because she kept on smashing the top lid to get the CD out.  Of course
it did matter how many time we showed her how to open the player
correctly, she kept on smashing it.   Around the time she started the
drug, we bought her a new stereo that has a tray with a button to open
it instead of a lid .  We labeled the important buttons for her
because sometimes she will read them and try herself.  We usually need
to guide her along at some point as she gets stuck and can't complete
the task, especially when using a new piece of equipment.  A few days
ago she was watching a movie that ended about 15 minutes before I got
back to the room.  When I returned I was stunned to find that she had
put a CD on the new stereo by herself!

One possible side effect I am concerned about though has recently come
up is that on two occasions we have been in a restaurant with her and
she has told us that she has a burning feeling in her throat and the
she feels like she is going to be sick.  So far it only happens when
we are eating out and both times she has had a glass of wine which
leads me to believe that alcohol with the drug may be a problem.
There was another similar instance that may have occurred before she
started taking the drug but I can't remember the exact date. The same
problem does not seem to occur at home when she has wine. Have any of
you had similar occurrences?  Needless to say we are keeping a very
close watch on that situation to try and identify the cause.  I don't
want to take her off the drug prematurely but fear for her inability
to describe things in detail especially when she is stressed.

Regards,
pjwlk

P.S. e-mail address is for junk mail.