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We give mom melatonin but it isn’t working any longer. She is also taking hydroxzine for anxiety 3x a day. Any ideas?

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Try to stay “in the moment” with you mom rather than comparing what she does to what people who don’t have dementia do.

If the melatonin is not giving her the desired result (sleep?) reduce the dose.

Sleep problems are VERY COMMON among the elderly. Be sure to see what her doctor can recommend.
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Melatonin has also been known to CAUSE sleep disturbances in some people; like nightmares/night terrors and such. So maybe it's having the opposite effect on your mom these days; you may want to withdraw the melatonin and see if she stops this chit chat. It's worth a try.

My mother is 95 on the 20th with pretty advanced dementia and I had her taken to the ER in December for chest pain (turned out not to be a heart attack). While endlessly waiting in the exam room at the ER, I closed my eyes and noticed mom was 'talking' to someone. I slowly opened my eyes to see if someone was in the room, but we were alone. This 'chatter' went on for quite some time, so I have no idea WHO or WHAT was happening, just that she was in conversation with someone.

There's nothing 'normal' about dementia, and everything changes ALL the time, that's what I've found. If your mom is awake all night with this chatter, speak to her doctor about it and see what's recommended. Sleep troubles are very very common with dementia, just to add to all the rest of their issues, sadly.

Good luck!
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Hello Sue627,

There are 9 types of dementia you might want to read up on.
Lowey Body dementia is one with hallucinations.
A friend of mine also caregive for her 93 yo grandmother who speaks/sees people that are not there, and always at night. They are also
sun-downing for restlessness.
Ask her doctor what you can give her at night to sleep and help you have rest as well. Good luck to you.
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