Talking to Your Doctor

Your loved one, your doctor, and you—a healthy partnership

A healthy discussion starts with being prepared

Whether your loved one was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease a few days ago or a few years ago, working with your doctor is an important part of successfully managing his or her treatment. Doctors who treat people with Alzheimer's disease rely on consistent, open communication with caregivers to help them get the best idea of how their loved one is doing on a daily basis.

The more information you can gather before visits, the better prepared you will be to help the doctor provide the best care for your loved one. That's why it's important to have any questions or discussion points prepared ahead of your visit.

Here are a few tools to help you have a better dialogue with your loved one's doctor during your next appointment.

A guide to take to your loved one's next appointment

Print and fill out this discussion guide to help you prepare to talk about combination therapy with NAMENDA (memantine HCl) before your next doctor's appointment. It will help you remember any questions, concerns, or issues that you might have about treatment with NAMENDA, including combination therapy, most common side effects, and drug-drug interactions.

Keep track of your loved one's symptoms

By tracking weekly activities, including new and recurring symptoms, behaviors, unusual events, and sleeping and eating habits, you can record and share information with the doctor on your next visit. This will help your doctor know if your loved one is ready to start NAMENDA or, if they are already taking NAMENDA, if it's working.