According to the National Institute on Aging, Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive brain disease that leads to a decline in a person's cognitive ability. In most people, AD symptoms first appear after the age of 60. Nerve cells begin to degenerate in the part of the brain that governs short-term memory, and the degeneration slowly spreads to other areas. Over time, affected persons lose the ability to carry out the tasks of daily living, reports the National Institute on Aging. Doctors do not know the cause of AD, and there is no cure. Drug treatments slow the progression of the disease and aid in the management of symptoms.
Donepezil (Aricept)
Donepezil is a drug that can improve brain function and help patients with the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease in its early stages, including memory loss, repeating questions and slow performance of everyday tasks such as getting dressed. The initial oral adult dose is 5 mg once a day at bedtime. This dose should continue for four to six weeks; then a doctor may recommend an increase to 10 mg once a day if the treatment is working well. The most common side effects are diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite and insomnia. As the treatment regimen proceeds, these effects become less problematic.
Galantamine (Razadyne)
According to the Mayo Clinic, galantamine is an oral prescription medication that can address the symptoms of mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. Galantamine works by inhibiting the breakdown of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, which is important for proper brain function. The initial oral adult dose is 4 mg twice a day for four weeks. If the patient can tolerate this dose, the doctor may gradually increase it. Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea are problems for a large number of patients on galantamine therapy. Other common side effects are bladder pain and feeling sad and discouraged.
Memantine (Namenda)
The National Institute on Aging says that memantine is a prescription medication that can treat moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease. This drugs works by preventing the formation of excessive amounts of glutamate in the brain. Too much glutamate can lead to brain cell death. The initial adult oral dose of memantine is 5 mg once a day for at least one week. The doctor may then recommend a dose of 5 mg twice a day and further weekly increases up to 10 mg twice a day, according to the National Institute on Aging. Common side effects of memantine include dizziness, headache, confusion and constipation.
