Having a Conversation with Care

People who are suffering from Alzheimer's disease are naturally fearful not only of what is happening now, but what will be in the future. Many are fearful of medication and you may be concerned, as a caregiver, about introducing the idea of adding a new medication to the treatment plan.

Once you understand the benefits of combination therapy – adding Namenda^® (memantine HCl)* to Aricept^® (donepezil)** – you may feel confident that the benefits outweigh the concerns about side effects or drug interactions. As someone they know and trust, you can help the person suffering with Alzheimer's better understand the importance of getting the best treatment possible and, specifically, the benefits associated with combination therapy with Namenda.

Here are some tips for talking to the patient about their symptoms and the idea of starting combination therapy with Namenda:

• Choose the right time and place. As you probably know, both timing and location can be almost as important as the words you will say. It's important to make the person you are caring for feel comfortable.
• Be positive, calm and reassuring. A person suffering from the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease is looking for reassurance from the people they care about. You want to come across confidently because the person you are caring for may sense if you are worried about what you are saying.
• Address any fears the person you are caring for may have about adding a new medication to their treatment. Explain to them that Namenda has a low rate of side effects and low potential for drug-to-drug interactions. You can tell them that adding Namenda to another Alzheimer's drug, Aricept, has been proven to do more to help treat the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease than just by taking Aricept alone.
• Gather support. There are people with many years of experience who can help you hold this conversation. Reach out to a psychologist, social worker or Alzheimer's support group leader if you need additional Alzheimer's help.