Alzheimer’s Medication

There’s no known cure for Alzheimer’s disease. However, your doctor can recommend medications and other treatments to help ease your symptoms and delay the progression of the disease for as long as possible.

For early to moderate Alzheimer’s, your doctor may prescribe medications such as donepezil (Aricept) or rivastigmine (Exelon). These drugs can help maintain high levels of acetylcholine in your brain. This can help the nerve cells in your brain send and receive signals better. In turn, this may ease some symptoms of Alzheimer’s.

A newer medication called aducanumab (Aduhelm) is recommended only for those with early Alzheimer’s. It is thought to reduce the protein plaques that build up in the brain with Alzheimer’s. However, there are some concerns about whether the drug’s potential benefits outweigh its risks.

To treat moderate to late stage Alzheimer’s, your doctor may prescribe donepezil (Aricept) or memantine (Namenda). Memantine can help block the effects of excess glutamate. Glutamate is a brain chemical that’s released in higher amounts in Alzheimer’s disease and damages brain cells.

Your doctor may also recommend antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, or antipsychotics to help treat symptoms related to Alzheimer’s. These symptoms vary based on the progression of the disease, and can include:

• depression
• difficulty sleeping at night
• agitation
• hallucinations

Although the care needs of a person with Alzheimer’s will increase over time, the exact symptoms will be different from person to person.

Treatments

Other Alzheimer’s Treatments
In addition to medication, lifestyle changes can help you manage your condition. For example, your doctor might develop strategies to help you or your loved one: • simplify tasks • limit confusion • get enough rest every day • use relaxation techniques • create a calming environment Along with your doctor, a team of healthcare professionals can help you maintain your quality of life at all stages along the Alzheimer’s journey. A care team for Alzheimer’s may include a: • physical therapist, to help with staying active • dietician, to maintain a balanced, nutritious diet • pharmacist, to help with monitoring medications • mental health professional, who may work with the person with Alzheimer’s as well as their caregivers • social worker, to help with accessing resources and support • respite care center, to provide short-term care for someone with Alzheimer’s when their caregivers are temporarily unavailable • hospice care center, to manage symptoms in a comfortable and supportive setting at the end of life Some studies have suggested that vitamin E could help slow the loss of functioning in Alzheimer’s, especially when taken with medications like donepezil that increase acetylcholine in the brain. But other research found no benefits when taking vitamin E for Alzheimer’s disease. Overall, more evidence is needed. Be sure to ask your doctor before taking vitamin E or any other supplements. It can interfere with some of the medications used to treat Alzheimer’s disease. In addition to lifestyle changes, there are several alternative and complementary therapies you can ask your doctor about. View

Other Alzheimer’s Treatments

In addition to medication, lifestyle changes can help you manage your condition. For example, your doctor might develop strategies to help you or your loved one:

• simplify tasks
• limit confusion
• get enough rest every day
• use relaxation techniques
• create a calming environment

Along with your doctor, a team of healthcare professionals can help you maintain your quality of life at all stages along the Alzheimer’s journey. A care team for Alzheimer’s may include a:

• physical therapist, to help with staying active
• dietician, to maintain a balanced, nutritious diet
• pharmacist, to help with monitoring medications
• mental health professional, who may work with the person with Alzheimer’s as well as their caregivers
• social worker, to help with accessing resources and support
• respite care center, to provide short-term care for someone with Alzheimer’s when their caregivers are temporarily unavailable
• hospice care center, to manage symptoms in a comfortable and supportive setting at the end of life

Some studies have suggested that vitamin E could help slow the loss of functioning in Alzheimer’s, especially when taken with medications like donepezil that increase acetylcholine in the brain. But other research found no benefits when taking vitamin E for Alzheimer’s disease. Overall, more evidence is needed.

Be sure to ask your doctor before taking vitamin E or any other supplements. It can interfere with some of the medications used to treat Alzheimer’s disease.

In addition to lifestyle changes, there are several alternative and complementary therapies you can ask your doctor about.

View

Alzheimer’s Medication
There’s no known cure for Alzheimer’s disease. However, your doctor can recommend medications and other treatments to help ease your symptoms and delay the progression of the disease for as long as possible. For early to moderate Alzheimer’s, your doctor may prescribe medications such as donepezil (Aricept) or rivastigmine (Exelon). These drugs can help maintain high levels of acetylcholine in your brain. This can help the nerve cells in your brain send and receive signals better. In turn, this may ease some symptoms of Alzheimer’s. A newer medication called aducanumab (Aduhelm) is recommended only for those with early Alzheimer’s. It is thought to reduce the protein plaques that build up in the brain with Alzheimer’s. However, there are some concerns about whether the drug’s potential benefits outweigh its risks. To treat moderate to late stage Alzheimer’s, your doctor may prescribe donepezil (Aricept) or memantine (Namenda). Memantine can help block the effects of excess glutamate. Glutamate is a brain chemical that’s released in higher amounts in Alzheimer’s disease and damages brain cells. Your doctor may also recommend antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, or antipsychotics to help treat symptoms related to Alzheimer’s. These symptoms vary based on the progression of the disease, and can include: • depression • difficulty sleeping at night • agitation • hallucinations Although the care needs of a person with Alzheimer’s will increase over time, the exact symptoms will be different from person to person. View

Alzheimer’s Medication

View