Drugs Used in Alzheimer’s Treatment Programs

Once a person is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, it’s important to develop a treatment program as soon as possible. While there is no cure for the disease, an early diagnosis can help ward off the severity of the symptoms temporarily. An Alzheimer’s treatment program designed by knowledgeable medical professionals familiar with their patient’s symptoms and history is a key factor in fighting the disease.

A Alzheimer’s treatment program can consist of a variety of methods. Prescription drugs as well as natural supplements can be prescribed. Regular tests and other treatments will be ordered by the physician as necessary. The goal of an Alzheimer’s treatment program is to manage the disease and fight it as aggressively as possible, while preserving the patient’s dignity and quality of life.

What Drugs Are Available?

An Alzheimer’s treatment program can include drugs to treat cognitive symptoms like memory problems and other mental deficiencies. As the disease progresses, other drugs might be prescribed to treat behavioral problems like aggressiveness, depression, or severe agitation and anxiety.

Drugs to improve a patient’s cognitive ability – their memory and thinking skills – are a major part of an Alzheimer’s treatment program. Nothing can totally halt the spread of the disease itself, but if the symptoms can improve, the drugs will have been beneficial.

There are five main drugs that the FDA has approved to treat the cognitive symptoms of Alzheimer’s:

• Aricept®


• Razadyne, or Reminyl®


• Exelon®


• Cognex®


• Namenda®

Cognex® is no longer prescribed very often because it can cause very serious side effects, including liver damage.

Generally, the earlier these drugs are made a part of an Alzheimer’s treatment program, the more effective they are. And while they have all been found effective in reducing the severity of the cognitive symptoms, they don’t work for everyone. At least half of the people who take these drugs show no improvement at all. However, for those that the drugs do work for, a positive difference is seen in the quality of life and daily functioning.


Other Drugs Used in Alzheimer’s Treatment Programs

Aside from these drugs, some physicians prescribe other medications for use in an Alzheimer’s treatment program. For instance, there has been much research lately on the female hormone, estrogen, as a possible preventative treatment for Alzheimer’s. Estrogen is produced in a woman’s hormones, but affects the areas of the brain that contain memory function.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), which primarily are used to treat arthritis, are also thought to be protective against Alzheimer’s.

Countless new treatments are currently in research and development, so new options will continue to be available. Do your own research and continue to ask your medical team for updates as to any new medications and treatments available that can be added to an existing Alzheimer’ treatment program.