There are several options for medications to treat Alzheimer's disease, and it is as important to start the medication early to slow the progression of the disease. No medication can stop Alzheimer's, but the symptoms can be held at bay for an extended period of time with proper treatment and with the right drugs.
Types
The major drugs used for treatment of Alzheimer's disease are Aricept (donepezil HCl) and Namenda (memantine HCI).
Aricept is usually the first treatment to try since it has proven to be the most effective in treating early to mid-stage Alzheimer's. It is administered in 5 mg tablets in the beginning, and as the disease progresses, the dosage is increased to 10 mg taken once a day. This FDA-approved drug works to replace acetylcholine, a chemical in the brain that carries messages from one brain cell to another--a process that breaks down in the brains of Alzheimer's victims. Studies by the FDA and the National Institute on Aging show that Aricept significantly slows the progression of the symptoms of memory loss, loss of cognitive behavior functions, loss of the general thought process and the ability to communicate.
Namenda is generally used in conjunction with Aricept, as it is shown in tests to further slow the disease progression. It targets glutamate, a brain chemical related to memory retention and the learning process. The usual dosage begins with 5 mg taken once a day, gradually increasing to the optimal dosage of 10 mg taken twice a day.
Other drugs that have also been prescribed to treat Alzheimers, but not as effectively are Razadyne, Exelon and Cognex. Cognex is rarely prescribed, however, because of safety concerns.
Time Frame
It is estimated that 1 person in 8 over the age of 65 has some stage of Alzheimer's disease. According to the Alzheimer's Foundation of America, the lifespan of a victim of Alzheimer's can be from 2 to 20 years from the time of diagnosis. The average is approximately 11 years.
Alzheimer's disease eventually affects brain cells that control important bodily functions, ultimately causing death.
Significance
Alzheimer's disease is the sixth leading cause of death in America. Often, the patient dies from a heart attack, but it is the disease that shuts the heart down, not heart disease. Pneumonia is common in deaths of Alzheimer's victims.
Identification
Aricept comes in 5 mg tablets that are white. The 10 mg tablets are yellow. Namenda is a capsule; the 5 mg capsules are tan, and the 10 mg capsules are gray.
Effects
Side effects for Aricept include: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, bruising, insomnia muscle cramping, loss of appetite and fatigue.
Side effects for Namenda include: dizziness, confusion, flu-like symptoms, agitation, constipation and headache.
Tags: Alzheimer disease, Alzheimer victims, Side effects, taken once