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Parkinson's Disease Dementia Medication
There are no medications that cure Parkinson's disease dementia,
but there are drugs that may address its symptoms.
In 2006, Exelon became the first medication approved by the Food
and Drug Administration to treat Parkinson's disease dementia.
That medication had previously been prescribed for those who have
mild and moderate dementia due to Alzheimer's disease.
The American Academy of Neurology has studied the impact of
medications such as Exelon, whose generic name is rivastigmine
tartrate, and Aricept, whose generic name is donepezil. The
Academy had recommended that the FDA approve both drugs, finding
that they might be effective in treating the symptoms of those with
this kind of dementia.
Exelon and Aricept are part of a class of drugs called
cholinesterase inhibitors.
Since dementia remains incurable and there are no treatments yet,
your health care professional should be consulted for more
information about Exelon or any other medication used in the
treatment of dementia.
Research on Medications
The FDA approved the use of Exelon for Parkinson's
disease dementia after a clinical trial involving the use of
placebos. When that 24-week study ended, patients who took
Exelon better on a scale that measures mental processes than
patients who took the placebo.
Side Effects
Exelon can produce side effects, such as worsening
the tremors that some Parkinson's disease dementia patients exhibit.
That side effect may limit the widespread use of medications for
people with this type of dementia.
A list of other potential side effects includes:
Dosage
Exelon should be taken by the mouth with food,
usually twice daily in the morning and evening. To minimize
possible nausea and vomiting, the dosage should be gradually
increased to the target dose. The proper dosage is based on a
patient's medical condition and response to therapy. The
maximum recommended dose is 12 mgs a day.
The Exelon Patch
The FDA has also approved the use of an Exelon
Patch as a new way to deliver that medication to patients with mild
to moderate Parkinson's disease dementia. The patch is applied
to the back, upper arm or chest.
The patch keeps the drug at a steady level in a patient's blood
stream, and may reduce one of the side effects of Exelon,
gastrointestinal problems. The patch is said to have caused
fewer problems with nausea and vomiting than the medication in its
capsule form.
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