Can people with Alzheimer's take anti-depressants?

[ramblingroses]

My father has Alzheimer's and for the past 4 years has suffered with terrible depression, but also day and night is anxious, angry and accusing about his financial affairs amongst other things. This is terribly debilitating for both himself and those around him. He is getting close to being violent at times and if this happens to non-family members he could find himself in the position of having to be 'contained'.

I spoke to a friend recently who told me that his father had been just the same until recently when he was prescribed with an anti-depressant (Cipralex) and after about three weeks he was a completely different person - much calmer. However his father doesn't have Alzheimer's.

Before I talk to my father's doctor, I was wondering if anyone had experience of Alzheimer's sufferers being able to take beta blocker anti-depressants such as this?

Hi Rablin, My dad has alzhiemers and he was getting very agitated etc. His consultant put him on Prozac and carbemezapine (not sure of the correct spelling). For the first six months he was brilliant, chilled out and very calm. A couple of months ago it got to the stage where he was sleeping all day and had no motivation whatsoever.

The consultant reduced the dose of the carbemezapine to one a day and the prozac to one a day, this is as well as Aricept. (The wonder drug I call it). He is now settled again so yes they can take anti depressants it is just finding the right balance. Good luck