Mailbox Response

The question was submitted 24/08/2007

Subject: vascular dimentia

my mum has this disease and is in a care home she has been very depressed and suicidal also very attention seeking hard to manage two weeks ago the doctor gave her a new medication called Haloaperitol and it has made her tonnes better but her speech is worse what i cant understand is why couldnt the doc give her this medication sooner is it expensive it is heart breaking when its your own mum hopeing for somthing new to happen for this horrible disease jenny

Answer from DementiaNet

Behavioural problems are common with dementia, whether this is due to Alzheimer’s disease or so called vascular dementia. Haloperidol is very effective at calming the person but it does have side effects and this may be why your Mum’s speech has deteriorated. Haloperidol can cause Parkinson’s syndrome and worsening of speech is part of this. Haloperidol is not expensive and the delay in treatment was almost certainly because Mum’s doctor did not want to give her a toxic drug before it was absolutely necessary. Thankfully many of the behavioural problems with dementia are limited in their duration and it may not be necessary for Mum to stay on the haloperidol for too long. The longer it is used the more likely that Parkinsonian symptoms will develop further.

The answer was published on DementiaNet 17/09/2007