Here, we list the top 5 dementia medications for the elderly:
Donepezil
This medication, sold under its brand name Aricept, is a (AChE) inhibitor (cholinesterase) that is prescribed to assist the ones diagnosed with severe, moderate, or mild Alzheimer’s disease. It’s consumed as a pill, or dissolving tablet for the ones who do not have the ability to swallow, with side effects which typically include sleep disruption and gastrointestinal issues. In 1996, Donepezil was first approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and was categorized to treat all phases of Alzheimer’s in 2006 after extensive trials that showed its possibility of delaying the onset of memory loss, as well as cognitive abilities.
Galantamine
This medicine is sold under its name Razadyne and is a cholinesterase inhibitor that’s effective for mild to moderate memory loss conditions. According to the National Institutes of Health, the primary differences between Donepezil and Galantamine are that users of this medications’ caregivers recorded less “burdens” while their patients were on this medicine, within a 2003 clinical trial. Both medicines have likewise quantities of side effects, yet users of galantamine suffer, at times, a skin rash, in addition to the standard intestinal problems caused by the tendency of AChE inhibitors to increase the production of stomach acid.
Rivastigmine
Also known as Exelon, this medication is available in a patch form and is utilized to improve cognition and memory in the ones diagnosed with mild to severe memory conditions like Alzheimer’s disease. Like other AChE inhibitors, Rivastigmine is useful in the treatment of dementia-associated memory loss, yet not in the event of FTD (frontotemporal dementia).
Tacrine
In 1994, Tacrine was the first drug that was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat Alzheimer’s disease. It was sold under its brand name Cognex. Tacrine was demonstrated to improve cognitive functions like memory in patients who have mild to moderate Alzheimer’s, yet because of the extensive side effects which occasionally included severe liver damage, as well as the availability of safer alternatives, Exelon and Razadyne, the medication was discontinued for usage in the year 2013.
NMDA Receptor Antagonists
Studies on Alzheimer’s disease have exhibited that the neurotransmitter glutamate plays an important part in learning, and new medicine is available to assist in regulating this newly found memory process. Memantine was developed to aid in the regulation of glutamate inside the brain and is proven to be effective for the ones who have moderate to severe Alzheimer’s and additional dementias.
Pharmaceutical Treatment Alternatives
Research shows that cognitive health may greatly benefit from maintaining a creative and active lifestyle which encourages interaction with a declining dementia sufferer by giving them a chance to maintain meaningful passions and lifelong hobbies. For instance, some sufferers of dementia have improved in areas of creativity, as well as general happiness when they take up an interest in art.
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