Hi, everybody:
I just have to tell you: there is hope in this world!
Yesterday was George's appointment with his neurologist. They did the mini-mental exam on him, and he scored 22! He actually IMPROVED 5 points! The doctors have now re-classed him: instead of having "moderate" AD, they say he now has "mild" AD! Miracles do happen!

Ola kino maika'i (to your health)

Take aloha when you contact me

Mary MidIslander:

We haven,t heard from you for a long while.. I remember your Last Post [ I think ]/;Mary you had purchased the Memantine { Namanda] from the Usa. You were not Happy with how your Husband was. Please let us know how LO is.

My HUsband has been on Memantine Since Jan. and we see improvment. Jim is in the Late stage 6.
I purchased it from Europe, through Jim's Geriatric Dr.

Mary let us know how things are going.

Take care
Eleanor Caregiver for HUsband JIm, who is now in a NH. is doing okay./

Great news, Mary Midway Islander and Mary Morken... Thank you so much for sharing it. Hopefully, the success of your loved ones will be multiplied by many as the year rolls along.

For those of us who are still following Forest Labs' efforts to secure official FDA approval for Memantine aka Namenda use in the "mild to moderate stages" of AD, there is additional good news to be shared. Please open the following link: Forest Labs 1/07/04 News Release to review Forest Labs' latest announcement.

May these successes buy us time for the long-awaited cure to stop, and even prevent the very onset of, this horrendous loss known as Alzheimer's disease.

Joan Marie

"Dream as though you will live forever. Love as though you will die tomorrow."

Hi, May:
I was paying between $400 and $538 for just a 50-day supply of Memantine!Very expensive!! But, in view of what we've seen happen with George, it was well worth it. I just hope this trend continues. Like you, I long for the day they say they have a cure for this.

Ola kino maika'i (to your health)

Take aloha when you contact me

Any time we are hear there is hope it makes us all so happy.We all need to have something to cling to , even if it is for a short time.I am hoping it continues far beyond it's expectations. The price of 400 for 3 months supply , is that correct.I recall it was once 600 for 3 months supply, when you sent or it. Please keep us informed about your experience with this new medicine.I know so many who sent for it so long ago.I have read their are possibilities of other new drugs to be introduced.I long for the day when they can come up with a prevention .

Oh, the comfort, the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person, having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but pouring them all out, just as they are, chaff and grain together, certain that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keeping what is worth keeping, and with a breath of kindness blowing the rest away.

May, thank you for your good wishes. I, too, wish this had been available to your mom and to others. I pray that the doctors will realize that this medication, given to early AD, just might help slow it enough that something can be done.

Mary, I'm so excited about Hu! Let's see, he's been taking the memantine for 3 weeks now, so he's probably just now getting 10mg in the morning and 5mg in the afternoon. I'll be anxious to see the improvement after he's on full dose! Here in San Diego, we can now get the Namenda. For a 3 month supply, it's almost $400. Hopefully it will get cheaper.

Ola kino maika'i (to your health)

Take aloha when you contact me

It makes me feel so good to know that all of you have seen improvement with the taking of the medicine.I wished it had be available to my dear mother.Good news for one is good news to us all.Any positive we see is worth more than we can say.Continud good results.

Oh, the comfort, the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person, having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but pouring them all out, just as they are, chaff and grain together, certain that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keeping what is worth keeping, and with a breath of kindness blowing the rest away.

I think I see some improvement with memantine too, after 3 weeks at 1/2 dose. Hu is making more comments showing self-awareness, getting his perspective, acknowledging his "weakness." He is also a little more feisty, wanting to make his own decisions more, and so I'm adjusting to that! So glad for any little sign of more brain function! -Mary

Thank you, Karen!
Is there a Wal-Mart near your dad? I have a friend in Florida (Pensacola). He just got a prescription for Namenda filled at the local Wal-Mart yesterday. Here in San Diego, we can get Namenda at Med R-X. So it IS available now! I hope your mom has the same positive results that we've had! My friend in Florida said his wife has shown some improvement with the Namenda, too. She's only been on it for a couple of months. She's also taking Reminyl instead of Aricept. George is actually taking 15mg of Aricept. His neurologist was part of the Pfizer study to see if Aricept was effective in higher doses. By itself, the Aricept didn't show any changes. But, with the Namenda, it's been wonderful! Your dad might want to mention this to your mom's neurologist.
Good luck!

Ola kino maika'i (to your health)

Take aloha when you contact me

Mary, that is such good news - I am so happy for you and your DH!

I heard Namenda will be available January 15, and I visited the Web site http://www.namenda.com/ but they just say "In pharmacies, January 2004".

I told my father (CG of mom) about your great results and asked him to call mom's neurologist to see if he has any free samples available now , wouldn't that be nice! Mom is currently on 10 mg Aricept and her neurologist has said he wants her to begin memantine as soon as it is available.

What a **HAPPY** day for you, I'm so glad!

Mary I am so happy for you and George. I hope things continue to improve for you two and that you have given hope and encouragement to others.Gypsy

-Where there is pain, I wish you peace and mercy.
-Where there is self-doubting, I wish you a renewed confidence in your ability to work through it.
-Where there is tiredness, or exhaustion, I wish you understanding, patience, and renewed strength.
-Where there is fear, I wish you love, and courage.