Patients with Alzheimer’s disease will also often need to be treated for agitation they may experience as a result of the condition. Since the disease works by destroying nerve cells in the brain and can also have a profound emotional impact on its patients, special medications may need to be given in addition to treatments such as Aricept or Namenda.

Symptoms of Agitation

People with Alzheimer’s disease may not just become agitated. They can also become depressed, paranoid, and restless. They may become wide awake during the night and unable to sleep; instead, they may sleep during the day and roam or wander at night. Patients may also become confused and irritable, and they may experience delusions or hallucinations. These types of agitation most definitely can interfere with the patient’s ability to do day-to-day activities. Agitation also increases the risk of harm or danger to both the patient and caregivers, as the patient’s behavior becomes more and more unpredictable. Patients suffering from delusions or hallucinations may commit acts or behaviors they would not ordinarily do.

Treatments

Agitation may be brought on by a change in a patient’s environment. It can also be caused by fear, fatigue, or even an infection or medical problem. If agitation has not been caused by a medical problem, doctors can treat it with medication and modified behavioral changes. Patients may need to be prescribed an antipsychotic medication like Haldol or Zypexa. If depressed or suicidal, they may need a prescription for an antidepressant like Prozac or Zoloft. Particularly anxious patients may need an anti-anxiety prescription like Xanax. All of these drugs may cause side effects ranging from drowsiness to dry mouth, constipation, and even unusual movements in the case of anti-psychotic drugs.

Patients who need additional medications such as those listed should be well monitored by their caregivers as all of these medications may have different effects from patient to patient. Anti-depressants, for example, can sometimes make patients more depressed or suicidal, so they should be carefully watched. Patients experiencing any adverse side effects should report to their doctors immediately and may consider another method of treatment.