If you can't take the approved medications or they don't work for you, ask your doctor if you might be eligible for a clinical trial.The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved two types of drugs specifically to treat symptoms of Alzheimer's disease.Doctors might, however, prescribe Alzheimer's drugs for stages other than those for which the If your doctor prescribes medication as part of your Alzheimer's care plan, make sure you understand the drug's potential benefits and risks for your situation.Clinical trials testing whether Alzheimer's drugs might prevent progression of One way Alzheimer's disease harms the brain is by decreasing levels of a chemical messenger (acetylcholine) that's important for alertness, memory, thought and judgment.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved two types of medications — cholinesterase inhibitors (Aricept®, Exelon®, Razadyne®) and memantine (Namenda®) — to treat the cognitive symptoms (memory loss, confusion, and problems with thinking and reasoning) of Alzheimer's disease. Types of drugs. Over time, their effects wear off.Research into more-effective Alzheimer's drugs is ongoing. donepezil/memantine is a topic covered in the Davis's Drug Guide.. To view the entire topic, please sign in or purchase a subscription.. Nursing Central is an award-winning, complete mobile solution for nurses and students. Never disregard the medical advice of your physician or health professional, or delay in seeking such advice, because of something you read on this Site. Subscribe to MedHelp's free newsletter for Community Support, Experience, and Guidance. If you're taking an Alzheimer's drug, ongoing review of your care plan will include working with your doctor to decide how long you should continue your medication.Because the effects of Alzheimer's drugs are usually modest, it might be difficult to tell if the drugs are working. The Content on this Site is presented in a summary fashion, and is intended to be used for educational and entertainment purposes only. However, you can't know if your symptoms might be more severe without your medication.Talk to your doctor before stopping an Alzheimer's drug, and let your doctor know if your condition worsens after you stop.Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Namenda (memantine hydrochloride) is an orally active NMDA receptor antagonist used to treat moderate to severe Alzheimer's type dementia.

and usually reduces during the day with only occaisional bouts. Unfortunately, Alzheimer's drugs don't work for everyone, and they can't cure the disease or stop its progression. Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization and proceeds from Web advertising help support our mission. MedHelp is not a medical or healthcare provider and your use of this Site does not create a doctor / patient relationship. It is not intended to be and should not be interpreted as medical advice or a diagnosis of any health or fitness problem, condition or disease; or a recommendation for a specific test, doctor, care provider, procedure, treatment plan, product, or course of action. Working with your health care team can help you find the best strategies to manage your symptoms and prolong your independence.Alzheimer's drugs might be one strategy to help you temporarily manage memory loss, thinking and reasoning problems, and day-to-day function. Common side effects of Namenda include: tiredness, body aches, joint pain, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, loss of appetite, weight loss, headache, swelling in your hands or feet, Dementia even causes mood swings and can change a person’s personality and behavior. We offer this Site AS IS and without any warranties. Cholinesterase (ko-lin-ES-tur-ays) inhibitors boost the amount of acetylcholine available to nerve cells by preventing its breakdown in the brain.Cholinesterase inhibitors can't reverse Alzheimer's disease or stop the destruction of nerve cells. By using this Site you agree to the following Mayo Clinic offers appointments in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota and at Mayo Clinic Health System locations.Our general interest e-newsletter keeps you up to date on a wide variety of health topics.Alzheimer's still has no cure, but two types of drugs can help manage symptoms of the disease.Learning you have Alzheimer's disease can be devastating. Look up information on diseases, tests, and procedures; then consult the database with 5,000+ drugs or refer to 65,000+ dictionary terms. It works by regulating the activity of glutamate, a messenger chemical widely involved in brain functions — including learning and memory. These medications are not usually taken together.

All rights reserved. These medications eventually lose effectiveness because dwindling brain cells produce less acetylcholine as the disease progresses.Common side effects can include nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. I am on Arricept and Memantine for early onset dementia -- since first adding 1 - 20mg Mematinge to my 1 daily dose of Arricept. Dementia is a progressive brain disorder that makes it difficult for people to remember things, think rationally, communicate, or take care of themselves. Copyright © Vitals Consumer Services LLC