Depression, agitation, and psychotic symptoms may occur during the Alzheimer’s disease process. The medications prescribed for these symptoms are not specifically designated for Alzheimer’s disease, but they may be considered as part of the treatment plan by the supervising physician(s). Aggression, hyperactivity, and combativeness are all examples of agitated behavior. Psychotic behavior may include paranoid thoughts, delusions, or hallucinations. Generally, medications for these symptoms would be considered when non-medication alternatives have failed and/or these symptoms put the Alzheimer’s disease patient, or others, in danger.
A thoughtful evaluation must be performed by a physician before taking any medications, over-the-counter drugs, supplements, or herbs. The American Health Assistance Foundation does not endorse any of these medications, vitamins, or herbs. A qualified physician should make an informed decision based on each person's medical history and current prescriptions. The medication summaries provided do not include all of the information important for patient use and should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice. The prescribing physician should be consulted concerning any questions that you have.
The information provided in this section of our website was obtained from the National Institute on Aging.
Reviewed on 2/14/2007