Alzheimers and alcohol

 I was in a similar position hoping that starting Aricept would be the coincidental means to stop my dad from driving as well as drinking. Unfortunately his doctor didn't see a problem with either. The official Aricept website doesn't address combining the drug with alcohol, and alcohol does not seem to be a contraindication, although many doctors often advise against mixing the two. (The Mayo Clinic for a typical example points out that alcohol can cause side effect interaction with many different drugs and a physician should be consulted about individual cases.) All that said, it's probably a great idea if you can talk to her doctor about it. Some dementia can be alcohol induced and there are such cases of Aricept improving the dementia quite a bit; it may be better in such instances to take the medication even with the drinking rather than not at all. Her own doctor is the best person to evaluate and advise--

My mother in law is 83 years old and has alcohol-induced dementia.  Hers stems from consistent, daily drinking for over 50 years.  Her drink of choice was beer and she had at least 2 six-packs each day during those years.  She was in rehab twice.  So I sympathize with you.  The only reason my mother in law doesn't drink now is because my husband got guardianship of her about 6 years ago after her second time in rehab.  If she still had the option, she would be drinking today.  So although your mother still insists on drinking while taking the medicine, I have to agree with the other person who posted who said at least your mother is taking the Aricept.  Whether it is helpful to its full potential with your mother still drinking ... I don't know, but probably not.  However, unless you have the legal authority to make decisions for her or put her in rehab, it is ultimately her decision to continue drinking.  Best wishes to you in your struggle.

It's hard when you want to balance between what you want for her to do, and what she wants to do.  At the very least, you might consider contacting her physician and asking him to help her understand what's really the best decision to be made about alcohol and any medications.

Best wishes to you, and let us know how things are going!

My Mother-In-Law who is 77 years old lives with us and was as I am finding out a heavy drinker thru the years.  She is currently on Namenda twice a day and her doctor has told us she should only have alcohol on extremely speacial occasions and should not be driving.  It is a daily fight with her to keep alcohol away from her and the keys to her car.  She is still convinced we are making it up about the Doctor saying no alcohol and no driving even though we have a doctors note to show her every day.  She is like a bloodhound though and can sniff out alcohol quickly so I can only have a beer or a glass of wine when I go to bed at night.  The daily fight is really starting to wear on us.

Hello Anonymous,

That is a stressor! Daily care like that can wear one out, and battles just make it worse. Is it possible that perhaps an outside caregiving situation would work better for you all, assisted care facility?

Hello LauraL,

Unfortunately, an assisted care facility at this point is not an option due to My mother-in-laws children refuse to accept or acknowledge how much she has degraded with her logical thought process. To add more stress to the situation, we have a two year old child and one on the way.