There is currently no remedy for dementia of Lewy’s body, but treatments are available to help treat many of its symptoms. Drug treatments can help with cognitive symptoms, hallucinations and delusions, symptoms linked to movement and paradoxical sleep behavior.
You can also benefit from physiotherapy, advice and changes to your home to help you with daily tasks.
Medication options
A wide range of drugs can be used to treat dementia of Lewy’s body. As a rule, the choice of drugs will be based on the symptoms you experience.
Cholinesterase inhibitors are a group of drugs that have been approved to help loss of memory, confusion and reflection and reasoning problems in Alzheimer’s disease. They can also help reduce hallucinations and delusions in dementia of Lewy’s body and include:
- Donépézil (Arceptis)
- Rivastigmine (Exelon)
- Galantamine (razadyne)
Sometimes a related drug called memantine (Namenda) is added to a cholinesterase inhibitor to help stimulate cognitive function in moderate to severe dementia.
For movement-related symptoms, your doctor may prescribe a medication by Parkinson’s disease called Carbidopa-Levodopa (Sinemet, Parcopa, Stalevo). But due to serious side effects such as hallucinations and delusions, this medication should be used with caution.
To treat paradoxical sleep behavior disorder, a drug called Clonazepam (Klonopine) can be taken at night. Melatonin hormone can also help, alone or in combination with clonazepam.
To treat hallucinations, delusions, agitation and other behavioral symptoms, your doctor may prescribe what are called atypical antipsychotics. But these drugs can cause potentially serious side effects, so they should be used in the lowest possible dose during the shortest necessary time to control the symptoms.
Two drugs in this category are considered to have the best safety profile for dementia of Lewy’s body.
- Clozapine (Clozaril)
- Quétiapine (Seroquel)
A new atypical antipsychotic drug called Pimavanserine (Nuplazid) is approved for the treatment of psychosis linked to Parkinson’s disease. A study has shown that pimavanserin could be effective in the treatment of several types of psychosis related to dementia, including psychosis due to dementia of Lewy’s body.
Traditional (typical) antipsychotic drugs can be dangerous for people with dementia of Lewy’s body and should not be used. These drugs can cause severe fever, extreme symptoms linked to movements, sedation and even death.
Other therapies
Sometimes people with dementia of Lewy ‘body can benefit from non -drug therapies to solve certain problems, such as:
- Physiotherapy, to help improve strength, flexibility and walking
- Speech therapy, to improve a bad utterance, a low volume of voice or swallowing difficulties
- Occupational therapy, to help maintain skills and independence
- Individual or family psychotherapy, to help manage behavioral emotions and symptoms
- Support groups, to obtain emotional support and share practical advice
Although antipsychotics may be necessary in some cases to help control hallucinations and delusions in dementia of Lewy’s body, they can also worsen cognitive symptoms. For this reason, it is often better to try other approaches first, such as:
- Tolerate hallucinations, if they do not bother the person
- Reduce clutter and noise, which can cause distress
- Offer insurance and validate the concerns of the person
- Avoid correcting or questioning the person
- Keep the tasks simple and focus on small successes
- Routines and the following structure throughout the day
Complementary and integrative therapies
In addition to traditional drug and non -drug therapies, people with Lewy body dementia can benefit from other practices such as:
- Music therapy or aromatherapy, to reduce anxiety and improve mood
- Pet therapy, to help improve behavior and mood
- Massage therapy, to reduce muscle tensions and improve mood
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