This is important in case an illness develops. Problems with eyes, ears, teeth, or an infection may contribute to a patient’s confusion and communication problems.

Who may be involved?

• GP
• Practice Nurse

What can they do?

• The GP is responsible for maintaining the patient’s general health
• The GP may prescribe drugs for dementia.

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Stage 6 - Clinical Trials and other Anti-dementia Drugs

The specialist will recommend the most suitable and effective available treatment to a patient.

Four drugs are currently licensed by the Medicines Control Agency (MCA) for use in the UK in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease - Aricept, Exelon, Reminyl and Ebixa. Following the publication of guidelines by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) in January 2001, the first three of these drugs should be available in all Health Authorities, provided the patient meets certain criteria. However, none of these drugs are effective for all patients with Alzheimer's. Nor do they provide a cure, although they can ease the symptoms of the disease and give a period of increased quality of life for both patient and carer.

Another option may be participation in a clinical trial of a new drug. The patient and doctors involved may not know whether an individual is being given an active drug or a placebo and the effects of the effects of the drug may not be fully known. For further information on clinical trials, visit the Clinical Trials section of our Dementia Research page.

Who may be involved?

• Specialist
• Psychologist
• Nurse

What can they do?

• The patient may be prescribed a licensed drug. Currently there are licensed treatments available for Alzhemer's disease but not for other forms of dementia. (At Kingshill, this will be done through our Prescribing Clinic.)
• If the patient decides to participate in a clinical trial, the patient and carer will be asked to give ‘informed consent’ to a treatment before assessment goes ahead. This means that they have to be given all the facts before consent is requested. This consent can be withdrawn at any time by either the patient or carer.
• A full physical exam will be performed including a CT/MRI scan (x-ray of the head) and a number of memory tests.
• The assessment may be over a period of up to 6 weeks.
• After full discussion with patient and carer, the specialist will assess a patient’s suitability for a trial.
• If the patient is suitable and consents to the treatment, then medication will be issued with detailed instructions for use.
• The patient and carer will be given an emergency contact name and 24 hour telephone number.
• There will be regular check ups at the hospital.

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Stage 7 - Drug treatments for behavioural problems

• Behavioural problems may include agitation, sleep disturbances, depression and anxiety.

Who may be involved?

• GP
• Specialist
• Psychologist

What can they do?

• Discuss techniques of managing the behaviour without the use drugs.
• Prescribe a drug to reduce those symptoms that the patient and carer are finding difficult to manage.