Dementia

Question 1

What is referred to as “the cholinergic hypothesis”

Answer 1

Acetylcholine deficiency

Question 2

Medication is used for…

Answer 2

Symptom control

Question 3

How long is cholinergic medication helpful for?

Answer 3

Up to 3 years

Question 4

What classes can be used?

Answer 4

Antipsychotics
Anti anxiety
Antidepressants

Question 5

Mechanism of action

Answer 5

Cholinergic drugs agonize acetylcholine therefore increasing it

Question 6

Most common dementia meds

Answer 6

Donepezil
Rivastigmine
Galantamine
Memantine

Question 7

Donepezil

Answer 7

Anti-alzheimers and cholinergic med
Inhibits acelylchollnesterase
Long half-life - 70 hours
Side effects noted are NMs and rhabolomyolysis

Question 8

Rivastigmine

Answer 8

Anti-alzheimers and cholinergic med
Inhibits cholinesterase
Liver metabolism

Question 9

galantamine

Answer 9

Anti-alzheimer and cholinergic med
Inhibits cholinesterase
For mild to moderate dementia
7 hour half life
Side effects noted are acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis and SJS

Question 10

Memantine

Answer 10

NMDA antagonist
Protects brain from excessive glutamate
Most excreted unchanged in urine
60 to 80 hour half life

Question 11

Namzaric

Answer 11

Combination of donepezil and memantine
Not approved in Canada