A progressive disease of brain is Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). The characteristics of this disease include memory impairment and disturbance in thinking functionality. According to scientists, the cause of the disease is either accumulation or increased production of specific protein that leads to death of nerve cells.
Treatment for Alzheimer’s Disease
Prescription drugs or medications are helpful in treating AD. Medication is useful for treating behavioral, physical and psychological changes that occur due to this degenerative disease.
US Food and Drug Administration approves five drugs for treating AD. These drugs include: Exelon, Cognex, Razadyne, Aricept and Namenda. These drugs can have side effects and research is going on to test its effectiveness. These drugs do not give positive results to some people while on some others it gives significant effects.
Working of Prescription Drugs
Cholinesterase Inhibitors drugs include Exelon, Cognex, Razadyne and Aricept. In the brain, they delay the breakdown of acetylcholine. For communication between nerve cells, acetylcholine is helpful and is important for memory.
Pharmaceutical Effects
In early stages of AD Exelon, Razadyne and Aricept are effective. For slowing down the degeneration of cognitive symptoms, these prescription drugs are effective. People exhibiting behavioral problems due to AD get relief from these drugs. The use of these drugs improves the quality of life.
Namenda (mematine)
Namenda is N-methyl D-aspartate, which acts on another nerve message transmitter known as glutamate. This drug protects brain from glutamate as it contributes in the death of brain’s nerve cells in people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. The use of this drug is effective in severe and moderate forms of AD. The improvement of the life of people suffering from AD is visible within few weeks by the use of this drug.
Side Effects of Drugs
Namenda – Headache, dizziness, skin rash, confusion and constipation are the major side effects. Some lesscommon side effects include back pain, insomnia, vomiting, fatigue, hallucinations, high blood pressure and shortness of breath.
Exelon Upset stomach, vomiting, fatigue, nausea and weight loss are some side effects. Dizziness, abdominal pain, tremor, sweating, psychiatric disturbance, diarrhea are some of the less common effects. Gastro intestinal bleeding may occur due to the drug.
Razadyne – If you are taking the drug for the first time you may commonly feel weight loss, nausea, appetite loss, vomiting. Headaches, urinary tract infections, tremor, dizziness, runny nose, blood in urine are some less common effects.
Aricept – Nausea, fatigue, muscle cramps are common effects. Rarely gastric or duodenal ulcers, liver damage, bladder overflow obstruction etc occurs.
Cognex – This is less commonly used as it can cause liver damage. Seizures, heart problems are serious side effects.
Make sure that you consult your doctor and do a lot of research before starting these medicines.
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