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Suggest Ways To Wean Off Donepezil, Memantine And Quetiapine
Question: Hello Doctor,
My eighty year old mother is interested in taking a medication break due to side effects of fatigue, increased depression, and "feeling like a zombie." Her NP has thus far not returned my calls and I'm doing a bit of online research with regard to whether her prescribed medications are safe to discontinue or need to be tapered to avoid side effects or illness. Medications are: IC Memantine HCL 5 MG Tab, IC Donepezil HCL 10 MG Tab, and IC Quetiapine Fumarate 25 MG Tab. Thank you for your expertise.
My eighty year old mother is interested in taking a medication break due to side effects of fatigue, increased depression, and "feeling like a zombie." Her NP has thus far not returned my calls and I'm doing a bit of online research with regard to whether her prescribed medications are safe to discontinue or need to be tapered to avoid side effects or illness. Medications are: IC Memantine HCL 5 MG Tab, IC Donepezil HCL 10 MG Tab, and IC Quetiapine Fumarate 25 MG Tab. Thank you for your expertise.
Brief Answer:
Gradual tapering should be done
Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for asking from HCM
I can understand your concern. She is taking Donepezil, Memantin and Quetiapine. The doses are low so stopping the drugs would not cause much withdrawal symptoms. First of all dose of Donepezil should be reduced to 5 mg and this should be given to her for next 2 weeks. After that Donepezil can be stopped. After two weeks of stopping Donepezil, Memantin can be stopped. After two more weeks dose of Quetiapine can be reduced to half followed by stopping drugs completely. Dose reduction in this manner would not cause any withdrawal symptoms. She might have some insomnia after stopping Quetiapine.
This is what I advise my elderly patients. If you have access then talk to her doctor before making any change in her prescription.
Thanks and Take care.
You are welcome to ask follow up doubts.
Gradual tapering should be done
Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for asking from HCM
I can understand your concern. She is taking Donepezil, Memantin and Quetiapine. The doses are low so stopping the drugs would not cause much withdrawal symptoms. First of all dose of Donepezil should be reduced to 5 mg and this should be given to her for next 2 weeks. After that Donepezil can be stopped. After two weeks of stopping Donepezil, Memantin can be stopped. After two more weeks dose of Quetiapine can be reduced to half followed by stopping drugs completely. Dose reduction in this manner would not cause any withdrawal symptoms. She might have some insomnia after stopping Quetiapine.
This is what I advise my elderly patients. If you have access then talk to her doctor before making any change in her prescription.
Thanks and Take care.
You are welcome to ask follow up doubts.
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
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