USF Health Byrd Alzheimer's Institute

Several prepscription dugs are currently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat people who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Treating the symptoms of AD can provide patients with comfort, dignity, and independence for a longer period of time and can encourage and assist caregivers as well. It is important to understand that none of these medications stops the disease itself.

If you or a loved one has questions about Alzheimer's disease medications please schedule a Medication Review appointment with our Physicians by calling (813) 974-4355.

Medications for Alzheimer's Disease

Aricept

Razadyne and

Razadyne ER

(Extended Release)

Exelon

Namenda

Type of Drug

These three drugs are Cholinesterase inhibitors.

This drug is an NMDA receptor antagonist.

Generic name

Donepezil HCI

Galantamine

Rivastigmine

Memantine HCI

Pharmaceutical

Company

Pfizer

Ortho McNeil

Novartis

Forest

Initial dose

5 mg once daily

4mg twice daily

or

ER-8 mg once daily

1.5 mg twice daily

or

4.6 mg/24hr patch

5 mg daily

Maximum dose

10mg once

daily

12 mg twice daily

or

ER-24 mg once daily

6 mg twice daily

or

9.5 mg/24hr patch

10mg twice daily

When taken

AM or PM

with a meal.

With AM & PM meals

ER- in AM only

with AM & PM

meal AM and PM

Patch: change daily

AM and PM

Most common

side effects

Nausea,

diarrhea, loss of

appetite, weight

loss, muscle

cramps, slow

heart beat, and

vivid dreams

Nausea, diarrhea,

loss of appetite,

weight loss, muscle

cramps, and slow

heart beat

Nausea, diarrhea,

loss of appetite,

weight loss, muscle

cramps, and slow

heart beat

Patch: skin irritation

or rash

Dizziness,

temporary

confusion,

headache,

constipation

What stage of

the disease?

Mild to Severe

Alzheimer's

Disease

Mild to Moderate

Alzheimer's Disease

Mild to Moderate

Alzheimer's Disease

Moderate to

Severe

Alzheimer's

Disease

Goal of

treatment

All of these drugs slow down the progression of memory loss but do not reverse

the Alzheimer's process altogether.

Comments

Aricept, Razadyne and Exelon are the same type of drugs and you should only take one. However, any one of these can be used in combination with Namenda. Talk to your doctor before changing doses or stopping the medications.

	Aricept	Razadyne and Razadyne ER (Extended Release)	Exelon	Namenda


Type of Drug	These three drugs are Cholinesterase inhibitors.			This drug is an NMDA receptor antagonist.
Generic name	Donepezil HCI	Galantamine	Rivastigmine	Memantine HCI
Pharmaceutical Company	Pfizer	Ortho McNeil	Novartis	Forest
Pharmaceutical Company	Pfizer	Ortho McNeil	Novartis	Forest
Initial dose	5 mg once daily	4mg twice daily or ER-8 mg once daily	1.5 mg twice daily or 4.6 mg/24hr patch	5 mg daily


Maximum dose	10mg once daily	12 mg twice daily or ER-24 mg once daily	6 mg twice daily or 9.5 mg/24hr patch	10mg twice daily
When taken	AM or PM with a meal.	With AM & PM meals ER- in AM only	with AM & PM meal AM and PM Patch: change daily	AM and PM
Most common side effects	Nausea, diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss, muscle cramps, slow heart beat, and vivid dreams	Nausea, diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss, muscle cramps, and slow heart beat	Nausea, diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss, muscle cramps, and slow heart beat Patch: skin irritation or rash	Dizziness, temporary confusion, headache, constipation
What stage of the disease?	Mild to Severe Alzheimer's Disease	Mild to Moderate Alzheimer's Disease	Mild to Moderate Alzheimer's Disease	Moderate to Severe Alzheimer's Disease
Goal of treatment	All of these drugs slow down the progression of memory loss but do not reverse the Alzheimer's process altogether.
Comments	Aricept, Razadyne and Exelon are the same type of drugs and you should only take one. However, any one of these can be used in combination with Namenda. Talk to your doctor before changing doses or stopping the medications.