The Mayo Clinic describes dementia not as one specific disease, but as a group of symptoms that affect intellectual and social abilities severely enough to interrupt daily functioning. There are various types of dementia, but Alzheimer's disease is the most common one. There are many types of medications used to treat dementia and its symptoms.
Cholinesterase Inhibitors
Cholinesterase Inhibitors belong to a group of medications that help increase the level of a chemical in the brain known as acetylcholine. Increasing the levels of acetylcholine seems to help slow the progression of symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. Drugs in this class include Aricept, Razadyne and Exelon. Cholinesterase inhibitors do not work for everyone. Many patients often stop taking the drugs due to the side effects which can include nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
Memantine
Memantine (Namenda) is the first drug released to treat moderate to severe stages of Alzheimer's disease. Memantine works by protecting the brain from a chemical messenger known as glutamate. According to the National Institutes of Health, an excessive amount of glutamate can cause brain cell death. The drug can be used alone or in combination with cholinesterase inhibitors. The most common side effect of memantine is dizziness, but it has also been known to increase delusional thinking in a select group of people.
Antidepressants
According to the Mayo Clinic, physicians often prescribe antidepressants to dementia patients due to the increased risk for depression in these patients. However, the drug should be used cautiously as it can occasionally cause delirium in people suffering from dementia. Select serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as fluoxetine (Prozac) and citalopram (Celexa) have shown the least potential for side effects in dementia patients.
Anti-Psychotics
The use of anti-psychotics in dementia patients can be controversial. Theoretically, drugs like rispiridone (Risperdal) and olanzapine (Zyprexa) may help with some of the symptoms associated with dementia, such as anxiety, agitation, aggression and hallucinations. However, an article published in 2008 in "USA Today" stated that the use of anti-psychotic medications not only didn't provide any benefit, but showed a marked decline in verbal ability. The article went on to report that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned physicians in 2005 that the off-label use of anti-psychotic medications may lead to the early death of patients with dementia.
