Alzheimer's Medication: Aricept

by Aimee Amodio | More from this Blogger

10 Jul 2007 06:28 PM

One of the more popular medications used for Alzheimer's disease is called Aricept (generic name: donepezil). The drug has been in use in the United States since 1996 for the early stages of Alzheimer's disease; it was also approved in 2006 for use in patients with severe dementia. In people who respond well to the drug, the progression of Alzheimer's disease is delayed by six months to a year.

Aricept is a cholinesterase inhibitor. This type of drug delays the breakdown of a neurotransmitter known as acetylcholine, which aids in the communication between nerve cells. This neurotransmitter is very important for memory! Cholinesterase inhibitors like Aricept seem to improve cognitive ability and reduce behavior problems in people with Alzheimer's disease. People with mild to moderate dementia caused by Alzheimer's disease seem to have lower levels of acetylcholine in the brain.

Common side effects include:

• Nausea and/or vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Fatigue and/or insomnia
• Muscle cramps

Less common and rare side effects include:

• Headache
• Dizziness
• Ulcers
• Liver damage
• Heart problems
• Psychiatric disturbances like hallucinations

Some people do not respond to Aricept and other similar medications. It is very important that a patient be supervised by a memory/dementia specialist. Periodic checkups are needed to make sure the drug is still effective and beneficial to the patient. During a checkup, the patient may be asked a series of questions to help determine cognitive function. The patient may also need blood and/or urine testing.

Medication is only part of the treatment for Alzheimer's disease; the patient also needs interaction and stimulation on a regular basis. Your prescription for Aricept may come with a prescription to a Senior Day Care for the social stimulation that can help keep your brain healthy. If the brain isn't being stimulated, the medication can only do so much to help.

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