week 4- Medication Used In Dementia and Medicine Optimisation Flashcards
what are the 3 stages for giving medication in dementia?
To prevent dementia
At the onset of dementia
During the later stages of dementia
what are the different types of medication that can be used for medication?
Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEIs), e.g. Donepezil, Rivastigmine, Galantamine NMDA antagonists, e.g. Memantine Antioxidants, e.g. Ginkgo Anti-inflammatories, e.g. Ibuprofen Neurotrophic factors, e.g. Oestrogen Antiamyloid agents, e.g. Tramiprosate
is it useful to take acetylcholine esterase before a diagnosis?
no it isn’t
wont prevent the patient from progressing to Alzheimer disease
is it useful to take NSAIDs before a diagnosis?
if started early they could help
is it useful to take anti-hypertensives(ACE I, DIURETICS) before a diagnosis?
CAN DELAY PROGRESS AND HELP
is it useful to take beer before a diagnosis?
can help
is it useful to take oestrogen, lithium, statins,fish and vitamins before a diagnosis?
can help
what are some of the agents that have an effect on onset of dementia?
- ginseng
- folic acid
- omega 3
what is aducanumab?
- anti-amyloid antibody
- designed to target amyloid plaques in early stages of alzhemiers
when will disease modifying treatment work?
will only work if taken early enough, maybe
decades before diagnosis of dementia.
Disease modifying treatment is expected to yield more dramatic benefits than
treatment of established dementia.
what medication is used for onset of dementia? type, function
- they are acetylcholinesterase inhibitors
- only for mild to mid Alzheimer but rivastigmine used in parkinsons
- not cures but slow down progression of symptoms
- donepezil 5-10mg OD ON
- galantamine 4-12mg BD
- rivastigmine 1.5-6mg BD
do acetylcholinesterase inhibitors work? outcomes?
The three possible outcomes of AChEIs : Improvement Non-decline No response Each of these in equal proportions in the population
-about 1/3 will show improvement on daily activity can last 6-2yrs then decline will continue
The progressive decline in functioning that would otherwise have occurred
can be delayed for several months or years
This reduces carer burden
This delays the need for transfer to a dementia-care home or hospital
what happenes if the AChEI’s dont work?
Failure to benefit from one AChEI does not necessarily mean that someone
will not respond to another.
Also, poor tolerance to one AChEI does not rule out good tolerance to another
how do you ensure the patient gets the best benefit and unwanted effects what should be done?
Slow titration is recommended
Rivastigmine patches are better tolerated than capsules
Rivastigmine is best choice for patients taking multiple medications, and also
licensed in Parkinson’s disease
what does the NICE guidance say for treatment?
• Use the least expensive one first
• alternative AChE inhibitor could be prescribed if it is considered appropriate
when taking into account adverse event profile, expectations about
adherence, medical comorbidity, possibility of drug interactions and dosing
profiles
• Rivastigmine can be used in dementia associated with Parkinson’s disease
what are the adverse effects of AchEIs?
When they start to work, the AchEIs cause cholinergic stimulation of the body
too:
Common side-effects: Nausea, Vomiting, Diarrhoea, Loss of appetite, Sleep
disturbance, Abnormal dreams, Headache, Incontinence, Fatigue, Agitation
Bradycardia (dangerous in certain heart diseases, or if taking heart-slowing drugs,
e.g. Digoxin, beta-blockers, calcium-channel blockers)
what is the problem with commonly prescribed medicines and AchEIs?
Some commonly prescribed medicines are associated with increased anticholinergic burden, and
therefore cognitive impairment
what are some medication that can cause cognitive impairment?
EXAMPLES (List not Exhaustive) Antihistamines e.g Diphenhydramine Tricyclic Antidepressants Antipsychotics- e.g Quetiapine Drugs used in Urinary Incontinence- e.g Solfenacin Hyoscine Pain Killers- e.g Morphine Some Asthma and COPD meds
what is the tool that can be used to assess anticholinergic burden
There are validated tools for assessing anticholinergic burden- e.g. the Anticholinergic Cognitive
Burden Scale