posted
My neurologist gave me a trial starter pack of Namenda. It is for moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease. It is a four week starter with the dosage increasing every week. I see the neurologist at the end of the four weeks.
Have you ever heard of this type of medication being used to treat the complaints of someone with lyme disease?
I can't tell how much of my memory problems are due to lyme and how much are due to the high dose of gabapentin (3,000mg or more) that I take.
-------------------- Lyme is like the flu. You can get it and recover, but you can always get it again. Posts: 607 | From (deer tick)Heaven! Angeles National Forest | Registered: Oct 2000
| IP: Logged |
bettyg
Unregistered
posted
barb, i hadn't heard of this one, but i've lost touch on staying on top of alzheimer's/dementia illnesses.
aricept used to be the 1st thing used to help RETAIN MEMORY LONGER.
have you been to www.alzheimers.org ? they would list new meds and how they are used. best wishes hugs/kisses barb.
IP: Logged |
posted
yes....I was offered this med for some neuro Lyme and co issues..
at the time I did not take it because I was just starting a new treatment and didn't want to mix meds...
but the doc that was persrcibing it to me I trust....
mtree
-------------------- worrying about tomorrow takes its strength away from today Posts: 970 | From Point PLeasant , NJ | Registered: Jan 2008
| IP: Logged |
lymeparfait
Unregistered
posted
Do you have alzheimers symptoms? I wuld be leary of takin git unless you were trying to halt the progression of alzheimers.
Have you done any detoxing for candida? I would definately start doing that if you have not.
Appears, many alzheimers patients have loads of candida, that became rampant afater years of antibiotic usage, where their good bacvteria was completely out of balence.
Candida give memory issues! I can attest to the ower of detox and having clearer thinking.
I also am a caregiver for both inlaws with severe alzheimers, who we now know have systemic yeast infections on top of their plaque!
Jill E.
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9121
posted
Yes, one of my doctors recommended it to perhaps calm down my tremoring/myoclonus that kind of thing. I was too scared to try it because drugs are so hard on my liver and I'm so sensitive.
But my neurotransmitters are messed up from Lyme and coinfections so maybe it would work on those.
Jill
-------------------- If laughter is the best medicine, why hasn't stand-up comedy cured me? Posts: 1773 | From San Diego | Registered: Apr 2006
| IP: Logged |
sammy
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 13952
posted
I've been taking Namenda for a couple months and i'm only 27yrs old. The majority of my Lyme symptoms are neuro related. It got to the point where my cognition was so poor that I feared doing harm or losing my job.
Namenda has not been a miracle pill but it does seem to help me think a little clearer. Memory and attention is still poor but improving gradually with my new treatment protocol.
My doc works closely with a LL neurologist who recommends Namenda and Provigil for these kinds of symptoms. My ins would not approve Provigil though I wish it would.
If you are having severe problems, give Namenda a try. It will either help or not.
Posts: 5237 | From here | Registered: Nov 2007
| IP: Logged |
D Bergy
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9984
posted
Do a search on Turmeric and Alzheimer's. Maybe it could help.
Dan
Posts: 2919 | From Minnesota | Registered: Aug 2006
| IP: Logged |
posted
I really appreciate the quick and numerous responses. Wow!
I figure I'll give it a try. It was free.
All I want is to get better.
I can only afford to take the supplements that I have already purchased. The problem is, I always forget to take them! I have them in nice little organizers in my pill cupboard, but I still forget. I have put them in my pocket...and still forget.
I know getting over Lyme will be a long term thing, like it was 12 years ago. Been there. Done that. Five years of not working. I want to work sooner than five years.
I will do the tasks that are put in front of me. I go to the doctors. I take the pills. I come here and learn about supplements. I try and take the supplements. I keep my blood glucose in a reasonable range. I give my cats love. I'm rambling...sorry.
-------------------- Lyme is like the flu. You can get it and recover, but you can always get it again. Posts: 607 | From (deer tick)Heaven! Angeles National Forest | Registered: Oct 2000
| IP: Logged |
bettyg
Unregistered
posted
barb,
can someone call you around the time you are to take your pills OR a neighbor drop over to make sure you take your pills since you've organized them? xox
IP: Logged |
posted
You sort of gave me an idea. If I put them in the kitchen, where I am when I eat lunch, the best time to take my supplements, that ought to help. Or, I could set the timer on my old disconnected cell phone to go off daily at a certain time. Better yet, I can do both! In essence, I'll use the cell phone to call/remind myself. Cool!
-------------------- Lyme is like the flu. You can get it and recover, but you can always get it again. Posts: 607 | From (deer tick)Heaven! Angeles National Forest | Registered: Oct 2000
| IP: Logged |
bettyg
Unregistered
posted
barb, good; creative ideas!! let us know how it works out ok hugs
IP: Logged |
posted
I go to a weekly meeting where we take turns reading out loud from a book. I had been having to use a piece of paper to sort of underline the line I was reading so I wouldn't lose my place. Even then, I would read slower than I used to and stumble over words more than I used to. I have memories of being proud of my ability to read out loud. Not so proud lately. Today was different. Suddenly, I found myself reading like I used to read. I didn't pick up the paper I had used to keep my place. I read nicely, in a flowing manner and with expression.
This is totally different than the past six months. I haven't read this well for as long as I can remember (which doesn't say a lot).
When driving, my perception was different today. It is hard to describe. I felt like the scenery was going by faster, my hands felt closer to me and the distance ahead of me on the streets seemed longer than it should seem.
I definitely am feeling some profound differences today. Only time will tell if it is truly the Namenda.
-------------------- Lyme is like the flu. You can get it and recover, but you can always get it again. Posts: 607 | From (deer tick)Heaven! Angeles National Forest | Registered: Oct 2000
| IP: Logged |
posted
In a nutshell, Namenda has worked a veritable miracle for me. I would describe the change as going from typical lyme brain with some depression in spite of loads of psych meds, to what I think NORMAL balanced healthy people experience!
Like someone said, namenda will either work or it won't. I did some research and the consumer reviews basically said the same thing. Either they had good results or nothing.
Get your doc to give you a free sample month. It is worth it to give it a try.
I have even been able to decrease my neurontin and my provigil and my caffeine!
I am in a pink cloud! I can deal with situations that used to annoy me...and I don't get irritated!
I am human again. I am alive. I am Barbara! I have my cognitive functioning back!
-------------------- Lyme is like the flu. You can get it and recover, but you can always get it again. Posts: 607 | From (deer tick)Heaven! Angeles National Forest | Registered: Oct 2000
| IP: Logged |
Vermont_Lymie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9780
posted
Barb,
That is great that it worked for you. Thank you for your report, it is very interesting to hear your experience with this.
Posts: 2557 | From home | Registered: Aug 2006
| IP: Logged |
The Lyme Disease Network is a non-profit organization funded by individual donations. If you would like to support the Network and the LymeNet system of Web services, please send your donations to:
The
Lyme Disease Network of New Jersey 907 Pebble Creek Court,
Pennington,
NJ08534USA http://www.lymenet.org/
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
mtree
Printer-friendly view of this topic