Alzheimer's Disease Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
1
Q

What’s the most common type of dementia?

A

Alzheimer’s dx

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Which one of the tools used is NOT a diagnostic tool for AD? Whats it used for?

A

Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE)

Score < 24 indicates dementia or some type of memory disorder

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

When is a definitive diagnosis of the actual cause and type of made?

A

From an autopsy

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

List the sx of AD?

A

Memory loss

Difficulty communicating

Inability to leant or remember new info

Difficulty with planning and organizing

Poor coordination and motor functions

Personality changes

Inappropriate behavior

Paranoia, agitation, hallucination

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Describe the pathophysiology of AD?

A

Neuritic plaques and tangles in brain tissue -> neuron signaling is interrupted

Alteration of neurotransmitters eg. Decreased Acetylcholine

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

List the drugs that can worsen dementia?

A

Peripheral anticholinergics (includi incontinence & IBS drugs)

Central anticholinergics (benztropine)

Antihistamines & antiemetics

Antipsychotics

Barbiturates

Benzodiazepines

Skeletal muscle relaxants

Other CNS depressants

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What’s the mainstay of AD tx?

A

Acetylcholinesterase inh eg. donepezil

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

How is Acetylcholinesterase inh eg. donepezil used in AD tx?

A

Alone OR with Memantine (for more advance dx)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What’s the key pearl of use of Acetylcholinesterase inh eg. donepezil?

A

Although pts may not improve clinically, they may have a slower clinical progression vs. if they were not on therapy

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What should be monitored for when Acetylcholinesterase inh eg. donepezil is used?

A

Both improvement and SE

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

How does one combat the nausea associated with Acetylcholinesterase inh eg. donepezil?

A

Timing may be modified to QHS

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What can be used to treat associated depression of AD?

A

Sertraline (Zoloft)

Citalopram (Celexa)

Escitalopram (Lexapro)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What can be used to treat delusion/anger ass. with AD?

A

Antipsychotics

But they increase the risk of death in elderly pts (increased stroke) and provides little benefits

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

List the natural pdts used for dementia

A

Vit E

Ginkgo biloba

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What’s the concern with the use of ginkgo biloba for AD?

A

Can INCREASE bleeding risk

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What class of drugs should be avoided in AD pts?

A

Drugs with anticholinergic properties ( or the lowest, useful dose be used)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

MOA of Acetylcholinesterase inh

A

Inhibits CENTRALLY-active acetylcholinesterase, the enzyme responsible for hydrolysis (breakdown) of ach -> increase ACh.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

List drugs that are Acetylcholinesterase inh.

A

Donepezil (Aricept)

Rivastigmine (Exelon, Exelon patch)

Galantamine (Razadyne, Razadyne ER)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What’s the brand name for donepezil?

A

Aricept

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What’s the dose for Donepezil (Aricept) for:

Mild-mod dx

Advanced dx

A

Mild-mod dx = 5-10mg QHS

Advanced dx = 23mg QHS

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What med is often used in combo with donepezil (Aricept)?

A

Memantine

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What’s the brand name for Rivastigmine?

A

Exelon, Exelon patch

23
Q

What’s the dose for Exelon? Exelon patch?

A

Exelon = 1.5-6mg BID

Patch = 4.6, 9.5, 13.3mg/ 24hr patch

Liquid = 2mg/ml

24
Q

What’s the brand name for Galantamine?

A

Razadyne, Razadyne ER

25
Q

What’s the dose of Galantamine (Razadyne) (tab and liq)? Razadyne ER?

A

Galantamine (Razadyne) = 4-12mg bid

Liq = 4mg/ml solution

ER = start at 8mg daily, then increase to 16-24mg

26
Q

When is Acetylcholinesterase inh usually used?

A

Mild-moderate dx

In combo (with Memantine) for mod-severe AD

27
Q

What are the SE of Acetylcholinesterase inh?

A

GI side effects - N/V/ loose stools

Bradycardia

Fainting

Insomnia

28
Q

How can Donepezil (Aricept) be given to combat nause?

A

Given at QHS

29
Q

Donepezil (Aricept) is usually give ONCE daily…how are the other Acetylcholinesterase inh given?

A

Rivastigmine (Exelon) & Galantamine (Razadyne) are BID

30
Q

Which Acetylcholinesterase inh should be taken with food?

A

Rivastigmine (Exelon)

31
Q

What can be recommended to decrease GI side effects?

A

Exelon patch

Aricept ODT

32
Q

MOA of Memantine?

A

Blocks NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) which INH GLUTAMATE from binding to NMDA receptors -> reduce abnormal activation

33
Q

What’s the brand name of Memantine?

A

Namenda

Namenda XR

34
Q

What type of AD is Memantine (namenda, namenda XR) used for?

A

Mod-severe AD (alone or in combo with Donepezil (Aricept))

35
Q

What formulation of Memantine should be used with food?

A

Nemanda XR should be used with food or drink

36
Q

List meds used for AD that should be taken with food

A

Rivastigmine (Exelon)

Memantine (namenda XR)

37
Q

T/F? Memantine XR (namenda XR) caps can be opened and sprinkled on applesauce for use?

A

True

38
Q

What’s the usual dose of Memantin (Namenda)? How often should it be titrated?

A

5-10mg bid (titrate weekly)

39
Q

What’s the usual dose of Memantin XR (Namenda XR)? How often should it be titrated?

A

28mg daily (start at 7mg daily and titrate weekly)

40
Q

How can namenda be switched to namenda XR?

A

Can switch from10mg bid to 28mg daily.

Begin XR the next day (not same day)

41
Q

What are the SE of Memantine (namenda; XR)?

A

Dizziness

Constipation

Headache

42
Q

Use caution with drugs that lower heart rate. What drugs fall under the category?

A

Beta blockers

Diltiazem, verapamil

Digoxin

43
Q

Use caution with drugs that cause dizziness. What drugs fall under the category?

A

Antipsychotics

Antihypertensives

Alpha blockers

Skeletal muscle relaxant

Hypnotics

Opioids

44
Q

What’s the concern with concurrent use with drugs that lower HR and cause dizziness?

A

Risk of fall

45
Q

How is Donepezil (Aricept) titrated?

A

Starts at 5mg QHS -> increase to 10mg after about 4weeks

46
Q

How soon should acetylcholinesterase inh be titrated?

A

After about 4 weeks

47
Q

Why is Donepezil (Aricept) started at night?

A

To combat ass. nausea

48
Q

For Exelon (rivastigmine) patch, where should it be applied?

A

Upper/lower back

Upper arm

Chest

49
Q

For Exelon (rivastigmine) patch, how often should the patch site be rotated?

A

Do not use the same site within 14 days

50
Q

For Exelon (rivastigmine) patch, what sites should be avoided?

A

Skin that is hairy, oily, irritated, broken, scarred or calloused

Any area where cream, lotion, or power has been recently applied

Under tight clothes

51
Q

When should the applied patch be removed?

A

After 24 hrs

52
Q

How should the Exelon (rivastigmine) patch be removed?

A

Don’t touch sticky side. Fold patch in half with sticky sides together

53
Q

How should oral liquid Memantine (namenda) be used?

A

Use oral syringe to draw out solution

DO NOT mix with water or other liquids (swallow directly from syringe)

Rinse syringe with water after each use

54
Q

What is dementia?

A

A Grp of sx affecting intellectual and social abilities severely enough to interfere with daily functioning.