Memory Medications

Katy Mac

Do you get to a point where you stop using memory medications and just let the alzheimer's take its course or do you keep using them until the end?

Teachertee

Hello, Katy-

My mom just started on Aricept, so I am not sure how it all works.  Can't really tell if it is helping yet since she just began with it towards the end of December and we are hoping it helps!  Seems like there is a lot of good information on here and I am seeing many people sharing how dementia and Alzheimer's have different effects, along with different responses for each person in regards to medications.  

Wishing you the best in your situation.

M1

I believe the recommendation is continue as long as tolerated, although the benefit (particularly of the cholinesterase inhibitors like Aricept and Rivastigmine/Exelon) is modest at best.  I was trying to copy and paste from a medical online source, but I can't get it to transfer.  For Aricept, the studies have shown very modest improvement (2.7 points on a 70-point scale) for assessments at six and twelve months after starting the medication.  Mematine works by a different mechanism, and is more for moderate to late stage disease.  There are some studies that have suggested that it's neuroprotective, but again it's very modest benefit. 

Another chapter I've cited before says that for every twelve patients treated with Aricept, one will have a modest benefit, one will have a significant side effect, and for the other ten it will make no difference one way or the other.