Aricept (donzepil) seems to be helping me with cognitive executive functioning.

[Theta Z]

And, no, I do not have Alzheimer's.
My new doctor fortunately "got it" when I said that I was not interested in having a bunch of more/other/different antidepressants thrown at me.

My doctor asked/suggested a trial with Aricept. I said, sure, let's try it. It's a positive experience, a significant improvement in my cognitive functioning, for me.

I am neither recommending nor suggesting this. It's simply been my own experience, and your own experience may vary. You may want to try to ask your own dr. about this cholinesterase med's potential benefit for those of us with a history of tbi, who have significant life impairment in daily functioning including depression, cognitive executive dysfunction.

"Who'd a thunk it??"

Best regards,
Theta

[Mark in Idaho]

Recent research shows that there are many physiological conditions that overlap between Alzheimer's and mTBI. The beta-amyloid plaques of AD are also seen in mTBI.

[Theta Z]

Originally Posted by Mark in Idaho

Recent research shows that there are many physiological conditions that overlap between Alzheimer's and mTBI. The beta-amyloid plaques of AD are also seen in mTBI.

http://www.uphs.upenn.edu/news/News_.../brain-injury/

"In this study, researchers examined post-mortem brains from 39 long-term survivors of a single TBI, extending the survival time from 1-47 years survival after TBI, and compared them to uninjured, age-matched controls."

"TBI survivors showed a high density and wide distribution of neurofibrillary tau tangles and amyloid-beta plaque pathology far beyond what was found in controls. Specifically, about a third of the cases showed tangle pathology years after a single TBI, similar in appearance to the tangles found after repetitive TBI and in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease. Moreover, the amyloid-beta plaques were not only found years after TBI, but the majority of cases displayed diffuse as well as "neuritic" plaques with the same character as "senile" plaques also found in Alzheimer's disease. This suggests that years after a single TBI, amyloid-beta plaques may return and become neuritic."

"The present findings, showing that two hallmark pathologies of Alzheimer's disease can be found years after a single TBI, may provide a pathological link with the epidemiological observation of an increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. Moreover, future research to better understand this long-term neurodegenerative process after a single TBI may reveal important targets for treatment with emerging anti-tau and anti-amyloid therapies."

"The study was funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health."
You can read the whole article published by Univ. Penn. Health Sciences and USNIH"

http://www.uphs.upenn.edu/news/News_.../brain-injury/


Theta

[jinga]

Interesting Theta, I asked awhile back last spring about Aricept if anyone was on it and didnt get any replies. I have been on it for 6 months. I was told off label use by Neurologist. I am not sure if it helped or I just am coping better with STM issues. I know it did nothing for a couple of months then I began to have very vivid dreams (exciting vivid color not nightmares) so I liked that as I have continued to deal with sleep disturbance. The last visit the Neurologist told me to ween off of it so I would be interested in how long you are prescribed. Like I said not sure if it helped but it didnt seem to hurt. I still deal with higher function deficits, multi-tasking etc... so that has not resolved.

What dose are you on? and for how long?

[jinga]

Originally Posted by Mark in Idaho

Recent research shows that there are many physiological conditions that overlap between Alzheimer's and mTBI. The beta-amyloid plaques of AD are also seen in mTBI.

What test show these plaques?

[Theta Z]

Hello, jinga,
Sorry, I obviously 'missed' your post/thread-started back in Spring this year, re: Aricept. But then, I've only newly this Autumn been Rx'd/on the Aricept, so I wouldn't have had any 'actual experience' with it, (to have replied back in the Springtime of this year).

I'm into month#2 w/ the Aricept (genreric=donzepil) , added to Cymbalta (anitdepressant) ; dr. thus took me off Wellbutrin ER (generic, bupriprion sr (sp?) = the generic extended-release version of Wellbutrin, which is primarily 'dominergic' in its action.

I'm on 5mg Aricept (donzepil) 1 x daily in the a.m. x 2 months now.

I also had the very vivid, lucid dreams for a few nights, which for me was a very good thing. (=good REM sleep). I haven't had that since the first few weeks however.

Yesterday I saw my Rx'ing dr. and he said, "As long as you continue doing well, I won't need to see you for 3 months. Call me if you need anything." (I've been seeing the new dr. monthly for 6 months now.)
Yay!

Have you any understanding as to why your dr. is in fact choosing to ween you off the Aricept? Perhaps because you had no "positive change" to report from being on it for a couple months perhaps? Which is certainly understandable, if it didn't seem to be alleviating any of your distress, i.e. cognitive dysfunctions.

Keep us posted, jinga! Thanks for reporting in here with your experience, again!
As I said, I obviously missed your post, or had nothing in the way of experience w/ Aricept (donzepil) to relate or to reply earlier this year.

Best to you & your recovery,
Theta

[Theta Z]

Just wanted to report-in here that truly I am experiencing significant benefits, regaining former 'lost cognitive executive functions' , yes. It is real and true in my experience, for me.

Evidence?
Well, 2012 was for me a total 'wash', wipeout, hard-drive crash, dysfunctional, no life, no social capacity/tolerance, just no capacity to deal with the necesssary/required stuff of maintaining ordinary everyday life, plus all the bureaucracy hoops-to-jump-through re: Medicare and all that complicatedness.

I am simply sitting in amazement and great gratitude of all that I have been actually able to do, be doing, and have in fact accomplished in these past couple weeks. Wow.
It's awesome improvement for me.

I cannot attribute it to anything other than the 2 'new' factors of both the insight mediation practice twice daily --> better mindfulness throughout my day(s) and night(s) --- and the Aricept (donzepil).

I feel like "I'm back!", yes. And, friends who 'truly know me' are saying, 'You are back, aren't you? We are so glad. We've missed 'you'." I've missed me also!

I'm glad to report-in, that I am yes 'back' and ever so glad to be so. I feel like a human being again, I feel like myself again, I feel like a viable member of my own neighborhood/ town/ community again. Alleluia!! That's a major improvement, yes, in this year; my year #4.

Nonetheless mind ya, there's still much-much and so more way to go for me.
Mind ya, I'm not at "100%', or anywhere-near-100%.
Yet, I amfunctioning (after 'not' all of 2012) --- and I'm very pleased with how I am 'handling things', the stuff of meeting ordinary everyday life. This is a huge improvement, and welcomed, yes.

Love & appreciation,
Theta

[sospan]

That is really encouraging

[pcslife]

Very interesting and great to hear. What works for each individual is so complex and there is no way to tell. Seems like only way is to try and find out. I also keep hearing about Amantadine giving some good results.

Besides meds we must try other complimentary therapies (now more and more it is called as complimentary than alternative).

Integrated approach (east, west, north, south medicines ) seems like a better choice.

I started with restorative yoga since I started developing some shoulder pain and it sure brought it down. I started again with meditation. I need to add some more into this Thinking about Acupuncture or Cranio Sacral (again).

Keep progressing

Cheers!

[axs221]

I wanted to mention that Huperzine A is a non-prescription alternative to Aricept. I just started it yesterday. It has the same effect as Aricept; as mentioned on About.com, it is a "cholinesterase inhibitor, a type of medicine used to prevent the breakdown of acetylcholine (a chemical essential to learning and memory)."

I ordered Huperzine A on Amazon and I'm planning on taking it for a week or so and then every couple of days thereafter. **BE CAREFUL about cycling Huperzine A--if you take it too frequently, I have read (mostly hypothesis) that your body could adjust (I don't remember how...it might produce more cholinesterase or less acetylcholine). So most recommend spacing it out to maybe twice a week.**

Aricept is probably the better choice if you are already seeing a Neuro and have insurance to cover it, but this is another affordable option.