Alzheimer's Disease Medication for Moderate to Severe Alzheimer's
The fifth approved
Alzheimer's disease medication, known as
Namenda® (
memantine), is an N-methyl D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonist. It is prescribed for the treatment of moderate to severe
Alzheimer's disease. Studies have shown that the main effect of Namenda is to delay progression of some of the symptoms of moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease.
This Alzheimer's disease medication may allow patients to maintain certain daily functions a little longer. For example, Namenda may help a patient in the later
stages of Alzheimer's disease maintain his or her ability to go to the bathroom independently for several more months, a benefit for both patients and caregivers.
Namenda is believed to work by regulating glutamate, another important brain chemical that, when produced in excessive amounts, may lead to brain cell death. Because NMDA antagonists work very differently from cholinesterase inhibitors, the two types of drugs can be prescribed in combination.
Dose and Side Effects of Alzheimer's Disease Medication
For Alzheimer's disease medication, doctors usually start patients at low drug doses and gradually increase the dosage based on how well a patient tolerates the drug. There is some evidence that certain patients may benefit from higher doses of the cholinesterase inhibitor medications. However, side effects are more likely to occur if the dose is higher. The recommended effective dosage of Namenda is 20 mg/day after the patient has successfully tolerated lower doses.
Patients may be drug sensitive in other ways, and they should be monitored when a drug is started. Patients or their caregivers should:
- Report any unusual symptoms to the prescribing doctor right away
- Let the doctor know before adding or changing any medications
- Follow the doctor's instructions when taking any medication, including vitamins and herbal supplements.
Previous
Add this article to your Favorites
Email this article
Print