Is there a preference as to which medication is prescribed first? regarding Aricept or Namenda?

3 Sep 2011

I've not taken either drug, but my former boyfriend's grandmother began showing signs of dementia after her husband's death (she was in her late 70s). Her doctors gave her Namenda first. However, Aricept might work for her better. It's only a doctor's best guess, since there's no genetic testing available to determine whether a patient will respond to either drug better.

I'd recommend following her doctor's advice, and if the drug prescribed does not help, I'd seek a second opinion, before your mother's condition becomes too advanced.

17 Feb 2012

My mom was prescribed both Aricept and Namenda at her first visit to her doctor. She was diagnosed with Dementia. But without a diagnosis of Alzheimers by an "Alzheimer's Test", her insurance would not pay for Namenda. My sister and I were reluctant to have her tested because we didn't want her to be depressed. Either way the medications would be the same. This was in Illinois and her insurance was Blue Cross/Blue Shield and Medicare. She only took Aricept.