Alzheimers and Agitation: Treatments that Help

People with Alzheimer’s disease can get anxious or upset easily. They might be restless, unable to sleep, or pace back and forth. These problems, called agitation, can keep them from a normal day-and-night routine and might become harmful for your loved one or their caregivers.

Often, change is the biggest trigger of agitation. It might be a difference in their routine, surroundings, or the caregivers they see. Sometimes, it comes from fear or fatigue, which are common with Alzheimer’s. In some cases, agitation can happen because of an infection or another medical problem.

If your loved one is agitated and you can’t figure out the reason, take them to the doctor to see if they can find the cause.

Caregiving Tips

You may be able to lessen the agitation by simplifying their routine or distracting them from the stress that caused the problem. A few things to try:

Medications

If you can’t stop their agitation on your own or the problem is very severe, the doctor may recommend medications that can help.

The drugs they prescribe will depend on your loved one’s symptoms. But common ones that can ease agitation include:

The best way to help your loved one with agitation is to work with their doctor. They can recommend the right mix of medication and caregiving tips to keep them calm and make things easier for you, too.

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