"Can Alzheimer's Medication Help?"
Despite the current lack of disease-modifying therapies, studies have consistently shown that active medical management of Alzheimers and other dementias can significantly improve
quality of life through all stages of the disease for diagnosed individuals and their caregivers. Active management of Alzheimer's includes appropriate use of available treatment options, effective integration of coexisting conditions into the treatment plan and utilization of programs and support services.
Modern Alzheimers drugs can help sooth agitation, anxiety, depression, and sleeplessness, and may also help boost participation in daily activities. Newer Alzheimer's medications are also becoming available that can improve or preserve thinking skills, at least temporarily.
Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors
Alzheimer's causes the destruction of neurons (brain cells). It also destroys the important chemical messenger acetylcholine, which is responsible for memory and other cognitive skills. While no drug has yet been shown to completely protect the brain against the effects of Alzheimers drugs that protect acetylcholine from destruction appear to hold the symptoms at bay for a while longer. These medications are known as acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and include : Aricept,
Exelon, and,
Reminyl.
For the acetylcholinesterase inhibitor drugs, the dose of medication is started low and gradually increased to the recommended level. Tolerance (the drug no longer provides the same benefit) may occur. It is also important to know that these medications are expensive, averaging in the neighborhood of $130 per month. Your insurance or health cover may or may not cover the costs of this drug. Reminyl Warning: In April 2005, Reminyl's label was changed to include information about the deaths of 13 elderly patients who were taking the drug during a study. The deaths were due to various causes, including heart attack and stroke. Side Effects The acetylcholinesterase inhibitors are generally well tolerated by the human body, but some troublesome side effects may occur. These side effects include : nausea,
vomiting,
diarrhea, and,
weight loss.
Often, changing to a lower dose or switching medications solves the problems. Another Alzheimers medication, called Namenda, has recently been approved for use in the U.S. This Alzheimer's medication has a different action than the acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and the two types of drugs may be used together, at the same time. This may increase the effectiveness of therapy. Cholinesterase Inhibitors For patients undergoing Alzheimer's disease treatment, a gradual loss of memory is expected because disease destroys acetylcholine cells, the cell responsible for carrying messages to the brain. Cholinesterase inhibitors work by blocking the enzyme that destroys the acetylcholine cells, allowing the patient to function better and delay the loss of memory. The cholinesterase inhibitor, Cognex, is rarely used anymore due to serious liver side effects and the need for frequent blood testing. Flurizan All of the FDA-approved treatments now available only provide relief of cognitive symptoms; they do not attack underlying disease. A recent study found that patients with mild Alzheimers disease who take a drug called Flurizan were able to slow the disease-related decline in their activities of daily living (such as eating and dressing) by about 67 percent when compared with people on placebo. Flurizan is the first of a new class of drugs known as selective amyloid beta-lowering agents, which are intended to affect the suspected underlying cause of Alzheimer's disease, a build-up of beta-amyloid protein. Always remember that the Alzheimers patient may not be able to effectively communicate their health problems. This makes regular visits to a physician an important part of the Alzheimer's treatment process.
Alzheimers Vaccine
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