Reverse Paranoia

Any recommendations for medications to combat paranoia in an Alzheimer’s patient?

My dad’s Alzheimer’s symptoms are getting worse, including his paranoia that my brothers and I are “all stealing his money”, “giving away his hard-earned possessions”, making him “take medicine he doesn’t need”, etc…. I know that there are new meds being developed all of the time and have heard that there are a couple that might specifically address paranoia. I have a re-evaluation appointment set up with Dad’s neurologist, but wondered if any of you could give me some insight into these meds, in the meantime. Thank you.

There hasn’t been a new medication for Alzheimer’s since Namenda.

Most physicians will treat the paranoia symptoms by using an atypical anti-psychotic like Zyprexa or Risperdal. However, those drugs will increase the risk of death. They also can have severe side effects. It is not unheard of for someone on Zyprexa to gain 50 lbs. The problem is that they are the only drugs which really work well for those kind of symptoms.

Understanding Dementia and Caregiving For Your Aging Parents From A to Z Per the 2012 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report published by the Alzheimer’s Association, one in eight older Americans (over 65 years old) has Alzheimer’s and nearly half of the people 85 and older are afflicted with this insidious disease.So just as the Baby Boomer generation is getting ready to enjoy retirement, their increasingly frail parents require their care, many of whom may be e…