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Suggest Remedy For Weight Loss And Memory Issues In An Elderly Person

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Posted on Mon, 28 Sep 2015
Question: My wife has early stages of alzheimers disease. She is 86, can drive a car in the area. laundry, meals, mow lawn. Has no short term memory. Her weight has gone from 143 lbs to 100 lbs. I can not get her to eat a full meal. She is never hungry. My local doctor has been no help. He feels any medicine that he would order has side effects that are worse. She sleeps a great deal but is still active and bright. What can I do to get her to eat?She just must not loose more weight..
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Answered by Dr. Olsi Taka (14 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Dividing meals, vitamins, avoid fluids.

Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.

Unfortunately there are no specific drugs which induce apepetite (apart from a drug called megestrol, but has side effects, usually used in cancer patients only). What can be tried is to incite her to have several small meals during the day instead of the usual three which can make her feel full. Avoid drinking fluids during meals.Vitamin supplements suited to her age can also be added.

Also I am not sure what drugs have been considered. Alzheimer's disease drugs do not have such a high rate of side effects. Furthermore one of them, rotigotine is also available as a patch which has even fewer side effects.

I remain at your disposal for further questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Olsi Taka

Neurologist

Practicing since :2004

Answered : 3673 Questions

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Suggest Remedy For Weight Loss And Memory Issues In An Elderly Person

Brief Answer: Dividing meals, vitamins, avoid fluids. Detailed Answer: I read your question carefully and I understand your concern. Unfortunately there are no specific drugs which induce apepetite (apart from a drug called megestrol, but has side effects, usually used in cancer patients only). What can be tried is to incite her to have several small meals during the day instead of the usual three which can make her feel full. Avoid drinking fluids during meals.Vitamin supplements suited to her age can also be added. Also I am not sure what drugs have been considered. Alzheimer's disease drugs do not have such a high rate of side effects. Furthermore one of them, rotigotine is also available as a patch which has even fewer side effects. I remain at your disposal for further questions.