Ask Dr. Si

My WordPress Blog

Connect with me on Twitter

Follow @askdrsi
Text Size:+-
  • Home
  • About
  • Topics
  • Previously Answered Questions
    • Alzheimer’s Dementia
    • Cholesterol Lowering
    • Drug Interactions
    • Falls
    • Osteoporosis
    • Senior Care Pharmacy Services
    • Shingles
    • Side Effects of Medicines
    • Taking Too Many Medicines
    • Vitamin D and Calcium
  • Newsletter Sign-Up
  • Ask Dr. Si A Question
  • Ask Dr. Si

    Ask Dr. Si



    Dr. Si answers questions about medicines asked by baby boomers and their parents. .



    Ask a Question >>
  • Ask Dr. Si

    Ask Dr. Si



    Dr. Si answers questions about medicines asked by baby boomers and their parents. .



    Ask a Question >>
  • Ask Dr. Si

    Ask Dr. Si



    Dr. Si answers questions about medicines asked by baby boomers and their parents. .



    Ask a Question >>

September 8, 2009 by Ask Dr. Si

Should I take Alzheimer’s medication?

Q:Dear Dr. Si, I’m 57 years old and am becoming increasingly forgetful. My mother developed Alzheimer’s disease in her late 60’s and I’m concerned that I may develop it too. How can I get a prescription for Aricept? Do you think I should start taking Aricept? Will that prevent me from developing Alzheimer’s disease? – VC, Williamsburg, VA

A:Dear VC,

I understand your concern because your mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease at a relatively young age and because children of parents with Alzheimer’s have a slightly increased risk of developing it compared to those who’s parents don’t have the condition. I’m not a medical doctor and can’t diagnose your condition but I can tell you that your forgetfulness might simply be a benign age-related change in memory or it might be related to something as simple as a vitamin deficiency. A thorough medical workup could possibly identify a reversible cause of your problem. Whether you should start taking Aricept, or one of the other available Alzheimer’s medications now, when your symptoms are very mild and maybe completely unrelated to Alzheimer’s is an interesting question. One of the sad facts about the currently available Alzheimer’s medicines is that they are not very effective and may only slightly improve a patient’s symptoms, or might only slow the patient’s ultimate decline. I know of one well-know geriatric psychiatrist who recommends that people start taking Alzheimer’s medicines like Aricept early, before any symptoms develop, with hope of delaying the onset or even preventing its development but he is in the minority and I’m unaware of any scientific studies that support his position. In my experience, most doctors who treat Alzheimer’s wait until the diagnosis is established, or at least highly suspected. The good news is that there is tremendous progress towards the discovery of the precise cause of Alzheimer’s disease on the molecular level. Once that is done it is only a matter of time before more effective medications will be developed. I believe that there is a good chance of one or more breakthrough therapies being developed within the next couple of years possibly even a vaccination that may actually prevent the development of Alzheimer’s!

Categories: Alzheimer's Dementia, Previously Answered Questions

Free sign-up for new posts

Sign up here to be notified when new information has been added to this site.

Recently Answered Questions

December 20, 2017 By Ask Dr. Si

What should my Vitamin B-12 level be?

Q: Dear Dr. Si, Could you please tell me what my vitamin B-12 level should be? JR, Camus, WA Read More >>

June 27, 2017 By Ask Dr. Si

Osteoporosis medicines may damage bone

Q: Dear Dr. Si, Why do some medicines that are used to prevent osteoporosis actually cause bone loss in some people? GT, Norfolk, VA Read More >>

February 15, 2017 By Ask Dr. Si

Tendon rupture caused by an antibiotic

Q:Dear Dr. Si, My 72 year old husband has been using a steroid inhaler for breathing problems and was given a prescription for the antibiotic Read More >>

November 10, 2016 By Ask Dr. Si

Do calcium pills increase the risk of heart attack?

Q:Dr. Si, I recently read that taking calcium supplements can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. I take calcium tablets so am wondering if Read More >>

November 20, 2010 By Ask Dr. Si

Drug interactions and Geodon

Q:My 82 yr old Mom takes hyzaar, coumadin, and now geodon. Can you tell me if this is a lethal cocktail mix? She has been on geodon for 1 month Read More >>

  • Home
  • About
  • Topics
  • Ask Dr. Si A Question
  • Contact

© 2016 All Rights Reserved • Ask Dr. Si
Powered by Ponder Consulting ®