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A principle drug prescribed to slow cognitive decline in
Alzheimer’s patients is Cholinesterase inhibitors such
as donepezil (Aricept®), galantamine (Reminyl®),
or rivastigmine (Exelon®). These drugs temporarily boost
levels of the messenger chemical acetylcholine. However,
the affects of these drugs appear helpful only in mild to
moderate Alzheimer’s disease leaving moderately-severe
to severe patients without an approved therapy to turn to.
For this reason there is such a clamor about the drug Memantine.
Clinical data show that Memantine provides improvement in
the cognitive, psychological, social and motor impairments
of moderately-severe to severe dementia patients. It exerts
a neuroprotective effect with minimal side-effects and improves
cognitions when beta-amyloid toxicity is present via regulating
glutamate activity on AMPA & NMDA receptors. Recent
research results suggest that memantine can provide additional
benefits to patients already on cholinesterase inhibitor
therapies. Currently, monotherapy and combination therapy
is ongoing in patients with mild-to-moderate and moderate-to-severe
Alzheimer’s disease.
Friday October 17, 2003, on the recommendation of the advisory
committee , the FDA approved memantine for treatment of
moderate to severe Alzheimer’s disease. Memantine is
now available under the brand names Namenda® or Axura®.
More information available on our website at:
http://alzheimer.ucdavis.edu/faq/spmem.php or the Alzheimer’s
Association Fact Sheet at http://www.alz.org/ResourceCenter/ByTopic/memantine.htm
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