Alzheimer’s Can Cause Mood Swings
The disease, as well as medication side effects, can cause changes in mood. If possible, use the process of elimination to rule out what you can impact, and what you can’t.
What You Can Do
-
Rule Out Pain/Discomfort
If your loved one can’t express that they have pain, look for changes in vital signs for indications of pain—increased pulse, breathing, or temperature. They might not realize they have pain.
-
Rule Out Medication Side Effects
Some Alzheimer’s medicines have side effects that impact mood directly (like causing confusion). They also have effects on other body systems (for example, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation) that can also affect mood negatively.
-
Rule Out Hunger/Thirst
Memory problems can make people forget to eat/drink. Hunger or dehydration can make anyone have mood swings.
-
Stay Calm & Empathetic
Speak in a calm voice. Validate their feelings by recognizing they’re upset. Don’t argue, reason, or correct. Try to remember it’s the disease talking, not the person you love.
How Does Alzheimer's Medication Affect Moods?
The following is a list of common medications prescribed for Alzheimer's Disease and their impact on a person's mood. This information is from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, the Mayo Clinic, and RxList.com, part of the WebMD Network.
-
Drug: Donepezil
Name Brand: Aricept®
Less common side effects include mental depression.
Rare side effects include confusion, an increase in sexual desire or performance, mood or mental changes, including abnormal crying, aggression, agitation, delusions, irritability, nervousness, or restlessness.Sources
-
Drug: Rivastigmine
Name Brand: Exelon®
Rare side effects include aggression.
Sources
-
Drug: Galantamine
Name Brand: Razadyne®
Less common side effects include discouragement, feeling sad or empty, a general feeling of discomfort or illness, irritability, loss of interest or pleasure, trouble concentrating.
Sources
-
Drug: Memantine
Name Brand: Namenda®
More common side effects include confusion.
Less common side effects include anxiety, discouragement, fear, feeling sad or empty, a general feeling of discomfort or illness, irritability, loss of interest or pleasure, nervousness, restlessness, trouble concentrating.Sources
