Drug Treatment for Alzheimer’s and Their Side Effects

New drug treatments for Alzheimer’s are being developed every year; it is hopeful that someday an actual cure will be found. Currently, all the latest treatments can do is slow the progression of the disease. For now, there are two main types of drugs that doctors most often prescribe for patients with Alzheimer’s: cholinesterase inhibitors and NMDA receptor antagonists.

Cholinesterase inhibitors are thought to slow down a person’s cognitive decline. These drugs help patients retain their memories and their ability to learn and think as long as possible in the early stages of the disease. The cholinesterase inhibitor drugs that are approved by the FDA are:

• Aricept


• Cognex


• Exelon


• Razadyne

NMDA receptor antagonists work during the later stages of the disease to slow the decline of the functions necessary for daily living — things like being able to dress and feed oneself. Currently there is just one NMDA receptor antagonist drug that the FDA has approved: Namenda.


Side Effects of Drug Treatment for Alzheimer’s

While Alzheimer’s is a disease that calls for drug intervention, even the most helpful drugs to combat the disease have side effects. Here are some of the ones to look out for when your loved one is undergoing drug treatment for Alzheimer’s.

Aricept: The common side effects include nausea, vomiting, muscle cramps and insomnia. Headaches and dizziness are less common side effects. Much more rare would be ulcers, heart problems, or liver damage.

Exelon: Nausea, vomiting, weight loss, upset stomach, and fatigue are all common side effects of this drug. Dizziness, diarrhea, headaches, depression, or anxiety are all much less common. The rare side effect you want to be aware of with Exelon is gastro-intestinal bleeding.

Cognex: This is not used very often as a drug treatment for Alzheimer’s because it has been shown to cause severe liver damage. It also can cause nausea and vomiting, as well as muscle soreness, insomnia, swelling in legs and feet, or increased urination. In extreme cases it can also cause heart problems or seizures.

Razadyne: Especially when a person begins taking this drug, they may experience weight loss, a loss of appetite, and nausea and vomiting. Less common side effects could be urinary tract infections, runny nose, fatigue, abdominal pain, or headaches. At this point, there are no serious side effects.

Namenda: This drug treatment for Alzheimer’s can cause common side effects like confusion, headaches, constipation, and skin rashes. Fatigue, back pain, high blood pressure, vomiting, shortness of breath, hallucinations, and insomnia are all side effects too, but much less common. There are no side effects that are classified as serious.

Talk to Your Doctor

Your doctor will help you decide which drug treatment for Alzheimer’s are appropriate for your loved one. You should watch your loved one carefully, and if you notice side effects occurring, talk to your doctor about the best plan of action.