Overview
Medications called cholinesterase inhibitors (or Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (ACIs)), are regularly prescribed to the patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s Disease. These drugs may help delay or prevent symptoms from becoming worse for a limited time and may help control some behavioral symptoms as well. The medications include: Razadyne (galantamine, formerly known as Reminyl and now available as a generic drug), Exelon (rivastigmine), and Aricept (donepezil). Another drug, Cognex (tacrine), was the first approved cholinesterase inhibitor but is rarely prescribed today due to safety concerns.
Scientists do not yet fully understand how cholinesterase inhibitors work to treat AD, but research indicates that they prevent the breakdown of acetylcholine, a brain chemical believed to be important for memory and thinking. As AD progresses, the brain produces less and less acetylcholine; therefore, cholinesterase inhibitors may eventually lose their effect.
No published study directly compares these drugs. Because they work in a similar way, switching from one of these drugs to another probably will not produce significantly different results. However, an AD patient may respond better to one drug than another.
How It Works
Cholinesterase inhibitors increase the level of a brain chemical called acetylcholine. People with Alzheimer's disease and related conditions have decreased brain levels of this neurotransmitter. Increasing the amount of acetylcholine appears to slow mental decline in people with Alzheimer's disease.
These medicines help the brain cells work better but do not stop or reverse the destruction of brain cells and loss of acetylcholine that occur in Alzheimer's disease. They do not prevent the disease from getting worse but may slow the progression of symptoms.
Cholinesterase inhibitors may produce small improvements in memory and general ability to function. For example, the person may be able to remember friends' names better and be able to dress himself or herself with less difficulty.
- Studies have shown that people with mild to moderately severe Alzheimer's who took donepezil scored somewhat higher in their doctors' evaluations of their mental and functional status than those who did not take the drug.
- Studies show that rivastigmine has beneficial effects similar to donepezil. Rivastigmine has more side effects, including nausea and possible weight loss. Because of the side effects, more people stop treatment with rivastigmine.
- Galantamine is available in the
- Improvement with cholinesterase inhibitors usually is minimal. The person's mental status does not stabilize, but the rate of decline may be somewhat slower than it would be without the medicine.
- Improvement in symptoms may be more likely at higher doses, but higher doses also may cause more side effects.
- Doctors don't know for sure that cholinesterase inhibitors help with behavior problems in people who have Alzheimer's disease. Some studies show that these medicines do help, which can mean less burden on caregivers. But other studies show that these medicines do not help.
- Cholinesterase inhibitors may have some use in other dementias, such as dementia with Lewy bodies and multi-infarct dementia.
Cholinesterase inhibitors do not help everyone who has Alzheimer's disease. It is believed that as the disease progresses, the medicine eventually may stop working.
The various cholinesterase inhibitors have similar effects on memory and cognitive function, so the choice between medicines may be based on side effects, dosing schedules and ease of use, individual response to a particular medicine, or other factors.
Dosage
Donepezil (Aricept) - 10 mg/day, as a single dose
Galantamine (Razadyne) - 24 mg/day, in 2 divided doses
Rivastigmine (Exelon) - 12 mg/day, in 2 divided doses
Tacrine (Cognex) - 160 mg/day, in 4 divided doses (this agent has largely been replaced with other available acetylcholinesterase inhibitors with more favorable dosage regimens and adverse event profiles).
Duration of Therapy
Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors do not alter the long-term progress of Alzheimer’s disease, but have been shown to delay the time to institutionalization, which may be cost-effective. Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors may be prescribed to stabilize dementia in Alzheimer’s patients, as determined by periodic assessment of functional and cognitive ability. Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors should be discontinued when dementia becomes unresponsive to therapy and progressively severe, as the efficacy of these agents diminishes due to loss of intact cholinergic neurons.
Side Effects
In general, most people seem to tolerate cholinesterase inhibitors very well. The most common side effects are:
In general, most people seem to tolerate cholinesterase inhibitors very well. The most common side effects are:
- Nausea.
- Diarrhea.
- Vomiting.
- Indigestion.
- Abdominal pain.
- Loss of appetite and weight loss.
Less common side effects include insomnia, fatigue, and muscle cramps. Side effects tend to be mild and usually go away within a few weeks after treatment with the medicine is started.
Cholinesterase inhibitors do not work for everyone who has Alzheimer's disease, but they are helpful for some people. They may be a reasonable option for those who understand the risks and costs and feel the possible benefits are worth it.
Most studies of cholinesterase inhibitors for people with Alzheimer's disease found that the benefits of taking these medicines are small.
Side effects seem to be milder and occur less often with donepezil or galantamine than with rivastigmine.
Experts agree that reducing problems with memory loss may help people with Alzheimer's disease live better. In some cases, reducing these problems may help people live more independently for a longer period of time.
Rivastigmine (Exelon) can now be given through a skin patch. Skin patches release medicine into the blood at a steady level and may reduce side effects. And it’s easier for caregivers to make sure a person is taking the medicine properly when the person uses a skin patch.
Selective Researches
Dr Raschetti and colleagues at Italy 's National Centre for Epidemiology, Surveillance and Health Promotion in Rome
Investigators from the Indiana University School of Medicine, the Regenstrief Institute and Wishard Health Services reviewed nine randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials evaluating the effectiveness of three popular cholinesterase inhibitors in managing behavioral and psychological symptoms displayed by patients with Alzheimer's disease. The researchers report that the trial results indicate cholinesterase inhibitors led to a statistically significant reduction in behavioral and psychological symptoms such as aggression, wandering or paranoia when using the same dosage as administered for improving cognitive impairment. Nine out of 10 Alzheimer's disease patients display behavioral and psychological symptoms of their disease. The review of the clinical trials revealed that cholinesterase inhibitors are safe, producing no major side effects. In Alzheimer's disease there is a decrease in acetylcholine, a chemical in the brain that assists memory, thought and judgment. Cholinesterase inhibitors raise acetylcholine levels. Increased concentrations of acetylcholine in the brain leads to increased communication between nerve cells and may improve or stabilize the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease in the early and moderate stages of progression.
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