Does anyone with PD and related dementia suffer from sundowning symptoms? How do you deal with it?

[wifeofparky]

My husband had sundowning when he was hospitalized. It was terrible. He would be fine all day and then in the evening when I would try to go home, he would become aggressive and verbally abusive. I toldthe staff he was sundowning and they would look at me like I didn't know what I was talking about.. Talk to his neuro immediately. There are meds that can help.

[isis6361]

In the uk we use quetiepine rivastigmine in the evenings. Otherwise keep the rooms light never sit in darkened rooms and there are lamps known as sun downing lamps you can but for this reason. Avoid heavy patterns on clothing and in carpets and bed linen even in wall paper. If the symptoms are worsened with fatigue then rearrange the Parkinson's medications to avoid fatigue.

[Pete-1]

What is Sundowning?

[Hidden]

Sundowning is a medical condition associated with dementia and Parkinson's disease. It increases agitation, restlessness and confusion starting in the late afternoon as the sun starts to fade which can cause shadows to appear. It causes sleep disturbances caused by the PD and effects of meds. My husband starts pacing around 4:00 or 4:30 in the afternoon and gets very irritable, agitated and confrontational. He will go around and turn every light in the house on. Sometimes his tremors also get worse. He had it for almost 2 months and then it disappeared and I thought he was over it but it has now started to show up again.

[Pete-1 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for the explanation, I've not heard that term before.

It sounds like it is pretty difficult to bear for all concerned