Five FDA-approved drugs are used to delay the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease or prevent them from becoming worse for a limited time.
What you can do:
Talk to your loved one's doctor about which drugs might be appropriate. For mild to moderate Alzheimer's, cholinesterase inhibitors -- such as Aricept (donepezil), Exelon (rivastigmine), and Razadyne (galantamine), formerly called Reminyl -- may be prescribed. These medications help keep the enzyme acetylcholinesterase from reducing acetylcholine, which affects mental capabilities and muscle control. The drug Cognex (tacrine hydrochloride) was prescribed in the past, but is no longer recommended.
For moderate to severe stages, the drug Namenda (memantine) is also used. This drug is an N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, which regulates glutamate (a chemical messenger in the brain that's associated with learning and memory).
The catch with medications:
Not every drug works for all patients. And each involves possible side effects and interactions with other drugs the person in your care may be taking. Talk to her doctor about whether any of these medications is a good fit.
