Alzheimer/Dementia: Dosing and Dealing With Side Effects

The medications used to treat dementia/Alzheimer’s can produce side effects in people that make them discontinue using them. There are certain small changes that can be done to lessen the side effects.

The first line of medications in treating this disorder is a class of drugs known as the Cholinesterase Inhibitors. These medications block the breakdown of acetylcholine, thus, increasing the amount of it in the brain. This increase in the brain should improve cognitive function.

Dementia/Alzheimer: Medications

Once the diagnosis of dementia/Alzheimer’s is made, treatment must be started quickly. Remember you might be able to prevent the disease from progressing, but you can not bring back what has been lost. Medications are very important as well as a plan of activities for the patient, which will be discussed at a later date. This article will concentrate on the medications available. These medications must be discussed with your physician as to which ones he prefers your loved one to be on. Dementia causes healthy brain tissue to become unhealthy and this will cause the memory and thinking ability of the person to worsen. Don’t allow yourself to believe that dementia is a normal part of brain aging, it is not.