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At 06:49 PM 6/1/97 -0400, you wrote: >--------------------- >Forwarded message: >Subj: aricept and PD >Date: 97-06-01 14:18:25 EDT >From: KMCRAE >To: [log in to unmask] > >I am cg for Ken who has PD and SDS(extreme postural hypotension) and >dementia. He kept PD under great control with sinemet and eldepryl for >almost 10 years after being diagnosed in 1982, so we know he truly had PD. >In the past five or six years, the SDS has slowly progressed along with the >PD and dementia to the point that he was bedridden in a nursing home last >fall, unable to communicate clearly or to stand up without passing out. We >obtained a new drug, midodrine , to work with florinef to keep his standing >BP up and brought him home with a full-time nursing assistant. With physical >therapy, he can now walk short distances, and we (the nurse, he, and I) all >went to Yosemite National Park for two weeks. His neurologist recently agreed >to start him on aricept as she says his dementia is "atypical" and it is >worth a try. He is only taking 5mg daily which will be increased to 10mg >after six weeks if it helps. Already(after two weeks) many people are >noticing the change. He can get out words that he wants to say. He is more >interested in the people around him and more responsive to them. He has even >begun to read again. he is even better able to communicate his toilet needs. >My youngest daughter had a long conversation with him and was in tears with >joy. I know that aricept "shouldn't" work with PD, but sometimes "shouldn't" >doesn't mean "won't". I am eternally grateful to our doctor for being >willing to try new things to help my husband. > Barbara >Smith cgKen69/16 > what is dementia,aricept? don 72/25 still got lot to learn. memory spelling trouble. I.Y.Q. don