See Teepa Snow talk about the top medications for Alzheimer's & dementia. In plain English, she explores what they do and how they work. Get clarity on Aricept, Exelon and Razadyne (generic donepezil, rivastigmine and galantamine).
In fighting Alzheimer's and other types of dementia, the most common drugs are acetylcholinesterase inhibitors. They are known generically as donepezil, rivastigmine & galantamine / galanthamine. The brand names are Aricept®, Exelon® & Razadyne®. Here's how they work.
Charts of Alzheimer's Drugs
Note: This brief summary does not include all information important for patient use and should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice. Consult the prescribing doctor and read the package insert before using these or any other medications or supplements.
DRUG NAME |
DRUG TYPE AND USE |
HOW IT WORKS |
COMMON SIDE EFFECTS |
---|---|---|---|
Aricept® (donepezil) |
Cholinesterase inhibitor prescribed to treat symptoms of mild, moderate, and severe Alzheimer's | Prevents the breakdown of acetylcholine in the brain | Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle cramps, fatigue, weight loss |
Exelon® (rivastigmine) |
Cholinesterase inhibitor prescribed to treat symptoms of mild to moderate Alzheimer's (patch is also for severe Alzheimer's) | Prevents the breakdown of acetylcholine and butyrylcholine (a brain chemical similar to acetylcholine) in the brain | Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, decreased appetite, muscle weakness |
Namenda® (memantine) |
N-methyl D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonist prescribed to treat symptoms of moderate to severe Alzheimer's | Blocks the toxic effects associated with excess glutamate and regulates glutamate activation | Dizziness, headache, diarrhea, constipation, confusion |
Namzaric® (memantine extended-release and donepezil) |
NMDA antagonist and cholinesterase inhibitor prescribed to treat symptoms of moderate to severe Alzheimer’s (for patients stabilized on both memantine and donepezil taken separately) | Blocks the toxic effects associated with excess glutamate and prevents the breakdown of acetylcholine in the brain | Headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, decreased appetite |
Razadyne® (galantamine) |
Cholinesterase inhibitor prescribed to treat symptoms of mild to moderate Alzheimer's | Prevents the breakdown of acetylcholine and stimulates nicotinic receptors to release more acetylcholine in the brain | Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, decreased appetite |
DRUG NAME |
MANUFACTURER’S RECOMMENDED DOSAGE |
FOR MORE INFORMATION |
---|---|---|
Aricept® (donepezil) |
|
For current information about this drug's safety and use, visit www.aricept.com/prescribing-and-patient-info. Click on "Prescribing and Patient Information" to see the drug label. |
Exelon® (rivastigmine) |
|
For current information about this drug’s safety and use, visit the www.fda.gov/Drugs. Click on "Drugs @ FDA," search for Exelon, and click on drug-name links to see "Label Information." |
Namenda® (memantine) |
|
For current information about this drug's safety and use, visit www.namenda.com . See Full Prescribing Information (PDF, 555K). |
Namzaric® (memantine extended-release and donepezil) |
|
For current information about this drug’s safety and use, visit www.namzaric.com . Click on “Prescribing Information” to see the drug label. |
Razadyne® (galantamine) |
|
For current information about this drug’s safety and use, visit www.janseenpharmceuticals.com/assets/razadyne_er.pdf to see the drug label. |
*Available as a generic drug.
Alzheimer's Weekly Store
To learn about support groups, research centers, research studies, and publications about Alzheimer's disease, contact the following resources:
Alzheimer's Disease Education and Referral (ADEAR) Center
1-800-438-4380 (toll-free)
adear@nia.nih.gov
www.nia.nih.gov/alzheimers
The National Institute on Aging's ADEAR Center offers information and publications for families, caregivers, and professionals on diagnosis, treatment, patient care, caregiver needs, long-term care, education, training, and research related to Alzheimer's disease. Staff members answer telephone, email, and written requests and make referrals to local and national resources. Visit the ADEAR website to learn more about Alzheimer's and other dementias, find clinical trials, and sign up for email updates.
SOURCES:
- Alzheimer's Disease Education and Referral (ADEAR) Center, A Service of the National Institute on Aging
- National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
You can order print copies of these publications from the U.S. government's NIH by calling 1-800-222-2225 or visiting www.nia.nih.gov/health
The video clip above is an excerpt of "The Journey of Dementia", a 3 hour training DVD for Alzheimer's/Dementia Caregivers, with Teepa Snow, MS, OTR/L, FAOTA.
Preparation and readiness are key to being the best possible caregiver you can be! "The Journey of Dementia" is packed with over 3 hours of essential preparation tips and advice to give you vital information for all situations.
You will learn to:
- Make the most of doctor's visits
- Get proper screenings to determine the stage of the disease and the best level-appropriate care
- Look for vital legal and financial documents that need to be prepared before the disease progresses
- Give the best possible support during Emergencies
- To determine when and if facility placement is the best choice
- Find the best End of Life care
The Pines Education Insitute is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing education, outreach programs, support, resources and counseling to family members and geriatric caregivers. For more information please visit www.pinesofsarasota.org.
© 2012, Pines Education Institute of S.W. Florida and Teepa Snow
Excellent clips, thank you. My partner who has YOD loved it!
ReplyDeleteThank you for posting this. We have been told numerous times that Aricept is not good, but it has helped my husband trememdously. This helps me understnad what the drug does.
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