Donepezil hydrochloride is the active ingredient in the prescription drug Aricept, a common drug used to treat mild, moderate, and severe Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. It is a reversible inhibitor of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase, which is responsible for the breakdown of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Increased levels of acetylcholine are believed to relieve the effects of Alzheimer’s disease.
Donepezil hydrochloride is known chemically by the IUPAC name 2,3-dihydro-5,6-dimethoxy-2-[[1-(phenylmethyl)-4-piperidinyl]methyl]-1H-inden-1-one hydrochloride (Figure 1). It is a white powder, and is available commercially as 5, 10, and 23 mg pills. Aricept, the original name-brand form of the drug, is marketed and sold by the pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and Eisai. However, the company Sandoz now makes a generic brand form of the drug as well, known as Sandoz’s Donepezil. Another generic form of donepezil created by Ranaxby Labs gained USDA approval in November of 2010, and a third generic form, made by Wockhardt, is in the process of gaining approval for sale (RxList).
Figure 1: Chemical structure of donepezil (TRC).
3
Major Alternative Products to Donepezil
Apart from donepezil HCl (or brand name Aricept), there exist several other drugs prescribed to treat the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. Similar FDA approved drugs include galantamine, memantine, rivastigmine, and a donepezil and memantine mixture branded under the name Namzaric. Rivastigmine and
The member’s treating physician notes that certain subtypes of dementia such as Alzheimer’s versus frontotemporal dementia (FTD) can be distinguished and that this can influence treatment. He reports that medications such as Aricept can have a negative impact on FTD, while they are the standard of care for Alzheimer’s disease. In this member’s case, however, she has been taking Aricept without any apparent side
Response: Donepezil is a widely used cholinesterase inhibitor, utilized for the treatment of many types of dementia. Cholinesterase inhibitors function by inactivating the cholinesterase enzymes that are responsible for cleaving acetylcholine in the
Unfortunately, there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease. Instead, it’s prolonged through medications. Referring once again to the NIA’s Alzheimer’s disease fact sheet, medications such as donepezil and memantine among others are used to ward off the effects of the disease. However, these drugs only seem to work for a limited time, and for some, they don’t at all.
The most common medications used to treat symptoms of dementia in the UK are: anti-psychotic drugs, tranquilizers, hypnotic drugs, anti-depressive drugs, anti-anxiety drugs, pain killers, antibiotics. They do not cure dementia.
Scientists may have discovered a drug that can help patients with Alzheimer's disease. The drug named solanezumab can slow down the rate of memory loss in patients suffering from mild Alzheimer's.
Aricept is a cholinesterase inhibitor. It has a long half-life and it acts by mimicking the actions of acetylcholine, hence enhancing the brain and systemic activities (Cheewakriengkrai & Gauthier, 2013 p.331).
There is no cure for Alzheimer’s. But drug and non-drug treatments may help with both cognitive and behavioral symptoms
Serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRI) - Duloxetine, this medication is sold under the brand named Cymbalta also Venlafaxine is sold under the brand named Efexor
Aricept (donepezil) is a medication that improves the function of the nerve cells in the brain. Donepezil is marketed under the trade name Aricept by its developer Eisai and partner Pfizer. It was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 1996 to treat mild to moderate Alzheimer’s. Currently Aricept is the world’s best-selling Alzheimer’s drug. In 2006, it was approved to treat severe dementia in people with Alzheimer’s. The first generic formulation became available in 2010. This medication is not used to cure Alzheimer’s disease, and it will not stop the disease from getting worse. However, it will improve thinking ability in some patients. It can take a few weeks before the patient feel the full benefit of the drug. The doctor will
Factors that are not preventable include family history, heredity, and age. Risks for eFAD include head trauma, and head to head connections. To help cope with the deteriorating disease, it is important for a nutritious diet as well as physical activity, social engagement, and mentally stimulating activities. Healthy diet helps ensure a healthy brain and heart which helps protect the body. Regular exercise is also important, this increases oxygen and blood flow which benefits cardiovascular system. Treatment for eFAD includes helping to maintain mental function and manage behavioral system. Medications that are used to comfort systems include Donepezil, Rivastigmine, and Galantamine used to treat mild to moderate Alzheimer’s. Targets for future drugs include Beta Amyloid (main components for plaque), and Tau proteins (main component in tangles.) Other hopes for drugs and therapies include the targeting of the overall inflammatory response as well as therapies to target specific areas of genetic, molecular, and cellular
Diagnosis can be at any stage of Alzheimer’s Disease. The earlier the diagnosis, the better the patient and care takers can prepare a proper treatment plan and monitor progression. Alzheimer’s Disease may be treated with various drugs to help with cognitive symptoms such as cholinesterase inhibitors. Non-chemical treatments are used help with behavioral symptoms such as allowing
Alzheimer's Disease is a condition that affects 50% of the population over the age of eighty five, which equals four million Americans each year. It is becoming an important and high-profile issue in today's society for everyone. There are rapid advancements being made in the fight against this disease now more than ever, and the purpose of this essay is to educate the public on the background as well as the new discoveries. There are many new drugs that are being tested and studied every day which slow down, and may even halt the progress of the disease.
The medication, donepezil, was chosen to reduce the client’s behavioral symptoms and slow the progression of neurodegeneration. The client returned to the clinic in four weeks accompanied by his son. The client’s son reports no improvement in the
Behavioral changes can include increased aggression and disruptiveness. This behavior can almost be perceived as a deterioration or demotion in a person’s maturity. While it most certainly is not, it happens in a way that an individual seemingly regresses in their decision making and maturity. It is theorized that some of the behavioral research done on other populations of similar behavioral competency (child like behavior) could be done on an elderly population suffering from the behavioral regression of dementia. There has been little research such as this done, however. Currently, there is no cure for dementia. There are some drug therapies that are currently in use to help increase the chemical acetylcholine in the brain in an attempt to aid in memory retention and judgement. A few drugs in the class are: Donepezil, Rivastigmine, and Galantamine. These have been attempted treatments for the disease, but have had mixed results. In some cases such treatments have come up short, and in drastic cases, these treatments have made matters worse for some patients. Some of these treatments have been known to cause confusion, delirium, and even increased risk of mortality. An alternative to these medicinal treatments have been almost strictly environmental. This has been through the application of behavior-analytic principles that help see future problems before they arise. This application also allows for an more individualized care plan for
The drug chosen is named Zopiclone. Zopiclone was initially developed and presented in 1986 by Rhône-Poulenc SA, one of the major worldwide drug manufacturers.1 More specifically, Zopiclone is also classified as nonbenzodiazepine hypnotic, belongs to the pyrazolopyrimidine class and is advised for short-period treatment of insomnia.2 Overall, medicines helping patients to sleep well are very likely to result in detrimental side effects including memory loss or amnesia.3 When this happens, an individual will not remember what happened for many hours between the time taking medicine until its effect wears off.2