Alzheimer’s drugs - are they good?

[Guest guest]

A relative of mine (age 83) was put on donepezil (Aricept®) after a

speech and memory affecting stroke? (they don't know yet). I read

that alternative treatments e.g. Ortho Mind by AOR at aor.com

are better and the drug makes people worse.

 

I read this at a few websites:

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" However, these drugs (including tacrine (Cognex®), rivastigmine

(Exelon®), donepezil (Aricept®), and now galantamine (Reminyl®) have

some serious side effects, including red liver damage, bloody

or " coffee-ground " -like vomit, irregular heartbeat, fainting spells,

seizures, depression, and hallucination. These side effects are due

to the fact that these drugs either also bind to other enzymes that

they aren't supposed to (such as butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE)), or

because they bind in the wrong place (the liver instead of the

brain), or because they bind to acetylcholine receptors in addition

to AChE, or because of other effects unrelated to their AChE-

inhibiting action. "

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I think the Ortho Mind would be safer and better. The drug might even

make her worse. But it's a big responsibility to speak against the

doctor to her other relative who is her Primary Caregiver.

 

So question 1 is any advice or information.

 

Also, she has congestive heart failure and I think it's possible

she's on statins (I know they're not supposed to be given to CHF

patients and they cause memory problems etc.) but can't

find out until tomorrow.

 

Question 2 - if she is on statins, would it be safe to advise that

she be taken off them, at a rate of 50 mg per week and put on B12

plus B complex, Omega 3's, Liquid CoQ10 plus a natural cholesterol

lowering preperation. I'd advise starting the CoQ10 at 100 mg and

raising it 100 for every 50 mg reduction of the statin.

 

I read a lot but, Alzheimer's is new territory for me. Any opinion or

new information would be appreciated?