My doctor told me that at some point they do not recommend continuing the standard meds for alzhiemers. Problem is..he was not able to tell me when that was. If it prolongs a life that makes a person miserable .... Why r we prolonging it? For us...as caregivers for the ones we love... Because we can't let them go? Or for them.... At what benefit? I'm truly confused about that. I've told my kids that if I am afflicted with this dreadful disease...make me comfortable and let nature take its course. I don't want my life prolonged if I can not enjoy the life left.
Drugs used in early dementia may not have been shown to have any effect in studies on large groups of patients with advanced dementia in certain age groups, so the prescribing advice is to not prescribe it to older, more demented patients.
Once the brain has degenerated past a certain point, there are no meds to slow the degenerative process down. Paying for & taking pills for that purpose is wasteful.
I can see how doctors get pressured by family to do "utterly everything possible". The prescription is more therapeutic theater for the family who can't handle the reality of what's happening to mom or dad. Facing a potential lawsuit from those same family members is pretty daunting.
I'm of the mind (now) that it's possible to get to a point where more meds aren't helping anything. Less or no meds might be just as effective.
When it's my turn, make me comfortable, keep me warm, and let nature take me when it takes me. I won't turn down a big shot of morphine.
Removing other meds such as those for high bp or cholesterol, even chemo for cancer, is something that can be considered when the person enters palliative care/hospice care.