More like it's draining the batteries. After being in the remote they
don't work in other devices either, and replacing them causes the remote
to start working again for the x number of hours it takes to drain
again.
You're lucky to be getting a week out of a set of batteries. I get an
hour or two ever since the factory batteries died. Been using my TV
remote to control it, the factory batteries in which haven't died in the
year I've owned both devices.