Are There Medications I Should Consider For My Loved One To Treat Other Conditions That Come Along With Alzheimer's?

Dr. Gary Small answers the question: 'Meds for Other Alzheimer's Conditions?'

May 4, 2009 -- Question: Are there medications I should consider for my loved one to treat other conditions that come along with Alzheimer's, such as depression?

Answer: Depression commonly strikes patients with Alzheimer's disease and we know that depression can be treated. There are antidepressant medicines that are safe and effective, and particularly some of the newer medications have fewer side effects than the older medications and are much less likely to worsen memory problems.

So, anytime a patient develops depressive symptoms it's important to check with the doctor, find out what kind of help is available and also to keep in mind that caregivers can get depressed themselves; it's very common for that to occur and [do] not hesitate to get help for your own depressive symptoms.