Alzheimers

Question 1

Tacrine (Cognex)

Answer 1

C: AChE inhibitor
M: Inhibits AChE and BuChE
T: Mild to moderate Alzheimers
SE: Transaminase elevation** Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramping
MISC: Metabolized by P450; dosed 4/day; now obsolete

Question 2

Donepezil (Aricept)

Answer 2

C: AChE inhibitor
M: Inhibits AChE
T: Mild to moderate Alzheimers; severe Alzheimers
SE: Nausea, vomiting, sleep disturbance
MISC: Metabolized by P450; dosed 1/day

Question 3

Rivastigmine (Exelon)

Answer 3

C: AChE inhibitor
M: Inhibits AChE and BuChE
T: Mild to moderate Alzheimers
SE: Nausea, vomiting, sleep disturbance
MISC: Hydrolyzed by cholinesterases; dosed 2/day

Question 4

Galantamine (Razadyne)

Answer 4

C: AChE inhibitor
M: Inhibits AChE; allosteric modulator of nicotinic receptors
T: Mild to moderate Alzheimers
SE: Nausea, vomiting, sleep disturbance
MISC: Metabolized by P450; dosed 2/day (1/day for ER strength)

Question 5

Memantine (Namenda)

Answer 5

C: –
M: Partial antagonist of NMDA receptor
T: Severe Alzheimers
SE: Dizziness, confusion, headache, constipation
MISC: Excreted unchanged in urine; dosed 2/day