Are you a caregiver who’s lost when it comes to treatment of Alzheimer’s or dementia? Have you experienced different treatment patterns and drugs prescribed by your loved one’s physician(s)? If yes, then this post will enlighten you somewhat.
Before starting new medication
Please make sure that your loved one’s physician, pharmacist, and care team are aware of any over-the-counter and alternative remedies they’re taking to prevent drug interactions and unwanted side effects.
Please discuss all medications your loved one takes with their physician to understand why they were prescribed and how to take them.
If you know about their medications well, you can be better prepared to discuss with their physician. You can make informed choices about their treatment plan and cope better with symptoms of Alzheimer’s. However, remember that there is no cure, prevention, or treatment to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease yet.
FDA-Approved drugs
Here are five prescription drugs approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat symptoms Alzheimer’s and their possible side effects:
| Generic | Brand | Approved | Possible side effects |
| Donepezil | Aricept® | All stages | Nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite and increased frequency of bowel movements |
| Galantamine | Razadyne® | Mild to moderate | Nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite and increased frequency of bowel movements |
| Memantine | Namenda® | Moderate to severe | Headache, constipation, confusion and dizziness |
| Rivastigmine | Exelon® | Mild to moderate | Nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite and increased frequency of bowel movements |
| Memantine + Donepezil | Namzaric® | Moderate to severe | Nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, increased frequency of bowel movements, headache, constipation, confusion and dizziness |
Source:
https://www.alz.org/help-support/i-have-alz/treatments-research
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