Medications for Alzheimer’s disease and dementia:
 

There is a family of drugs called Cholinesterase Inhibitors, which includes Aricept as well as two other medications called Exelon and Reminyl.

These medications may help with the symptoms of early to mid-stage Alzheimer’s disease by increasing the level of brain chemicals responsible for memory, but they do not alter the course of the disease and are not a cure.

As a general rule, Cholinesterase Inhibitors make a measurable improvement to the functioning of one third of people with disease. For another third they stabilize the condition, while for the last third there are no noticeable effects. The drugs have side effects and a doctor may have to work with the patient to see which of the three drugs is tolerated.

There is another drug called Ebixa (sometimes known as Memantine) that also helps with managing the symptoms of the disease. This medication is usually prescribed for the moderate to late stages of the disease.

None of these drugs are prescribed for age-related memory loss.

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