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Medications for Alzheimer's Disease

Other names: Presenile Dementia; SDAT; Senile dementia Alzheimer's Type

A progressive, neurodegenerative disease characterised by loss of function and death of nerve cells in several areas of the brain leading to loss of cognitive function such as memory and language. The cause of nerve cell death is unknown but the cells are recognised by the appearance of unusual helical protein filaments in the nerve cells.

Drugs used to treat Alzheimer's Disease

The following list of medications are in some way related to or used in the treatment of this condition.

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Drug name Rating Reviews Activity ? Rx/OTC Pregnancy CSA Alcohol
Aricept 4.8 33 reviews
Rx C N

Generic name: donepezil systemic

Drug class: cholinesterase inhibitors

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: Prescribing Information

donepezil 4.6 70 reviews
Rx C N

Generic name: donepezil systemic

Brand names:  Aricept, Aricept ODT, Adlarity

Drug class: cholinesterase inhibitors

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information

Namenda 4.9 25 reviews
Rx B N

Generic name: memantine systemic

Drug class: miscellaneous central nervous system agents

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: Prescribing Information

memantine 4.4 54 reviews
Rx B N

Generic name: memantine systemic

Brand names:  Namenda, Namenda XR

Drug class: miscellaneous central nervous system agents

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information

Exelon 6.7 12 reviews
Rx B N

Generic name: rivastigmine systemic

Drug class: cholinesterase inhibitors

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: Prescribing Information

galantamine 7.5 13 reviews
Rx C N

Generic name: galantamine systemic

Brand names:  Razadyne, Razadyne ER

Drug class: cholinesterase inhibitors

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information

Namenda XR 3.3 4 reviews
Rx B N

Generic name: memantine systemic

Drug class: miscellaneous central nervous system agents

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: Prescribing Information

rivastigmine 6.0 30 reviews
Rx B N

Generic name: rivastigmine systemic

Brand name:  Exelon

Drug class: cholinesterase inhibitors

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information

Aricept ODT 5.0 2 reviews
Rx C N

Generic name: donepezil systemic

Drug class: cholinesterase inhibitors

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

Namzaric 8.8 6 reviews
Rx C N

Generic name: donepezil / memantine systemic

Drug class: cholinesterase inhibitors

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: Prescribing Information

vitamin e Rate Add review
Rx/OTC C N

Generic name: vitamin e systemic

Brand names:  Alpha E, Aqua Gem-E, Aquasol E, E-400 Clear, E-600, E-Gems, E Pherol …show all

Drug class: vitamins

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: AHFS DI Monograph, Natural Product Monographs

donepezil / memantine 7.7 7 reviews
Rx C N

Generic name: donepezil / memantine systemic

Brand name:  Namzaric

Drug class: cholinesterase inhibitors

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: Prescribing Information

Razadyne Rate Add review
Rx C N

Generic name: galantamine systemic

Drug class: cholinesterase inhibitors

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: Prescribing Information

Razadyne ER 10 2 reviews
Rx C N

Generic name: galantamine systemic

Drug class: cholinesterase inhibitors

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

Adlarity Rate Add review
Rx C N

Generic name: donepezil systemic

Drug class: cholinesterase inhibitors

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: Prescribing Information

Alpha E Rate Add review
Rx/OTC C N

Generic name: vitamin e systemic

Drug class: vitamins

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

etanercept Off-label Rate Add review
Rx B N

Generic name: etanercept systemic

Drug class: antirheumatics, TNF alfa inhibitors

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: AHFS DI Monograph

Off-label: Yes

ergoloid mesylates Rate Add review
Rx N N

Generic name: ergoloid mesylates systemic

Brand name:  Hydergine

Drug class: miscellaneous central nervous system agents

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

Hydergine Rate Add review
Rx N N

Generic name: ergoloid mesylates systemic

Drug class: miscellaneous central nervous system agents

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: Prescribing Information

aducanumab Rate Add review
Rx N

Generic name: aducanumab systemic

Brand name:  Aduhelm

Drug class: miscellaneous central nervous system agents

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: AHFS DI Monograph

Aduhelm Rate Add review
Rx N

Generic name: aducanumab systemic

Drug class: miscellaneous central nervous system agents

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: Prescribing Information

Aqua Gem-E Rate Add review
Rx/OTC C N

Generic name: vitamin e systemic

Drug class: vitamins

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

Aquasol E Rate Add review
Rx/OTC C N

Generic name: vitamin e systemic

Drug class: vitamins

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

E-400 Clear Rate Add review
Rx/OTC C N

Generic name: vitamin e systemic

Drug class: vitamins

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

E-600 Rate Add review
Rx/OTC C N

Generic name: vitamin e systemic

Drug class: vitamins

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

Frequently asked questions

View more FAQ

Topics under Alzheimer's Disease

Drugs in development for the treatment of Alzheimer's Disease

Learn more about Alzheimer's Disease

Care guides

Symptoms and treatments

Medicine.com guides (external)

Legend

Rating For ratings, users were asked how effective they found the medicine while considering positive/adverse effects and ease of use (1 = not effective, 10 = most effective).
Activity Activity is based on recent site visitor activity relative to other medications in the list.
Rx Prescription only.
OTC Over-the-counter.
Rx/OTC Prescription or Over-the-counter.
Off-label This medication may not be approved by the FDA for the treatment of this condition.
EUA An Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) allows the FDA to authorize unapproved medical products or unapproved uses of approved medical products to be used in a declared public health emergency when there are no adequate, approved, and available alternatives.
Expanded Access Expanded Access is a potential pathway for a patient with a serious or immediately life-threatening disease or condition to gain access to an investigational medical product (drug, biologic, or medical device) for treatment outside of clinical trials when no comparable or satisfactory alternative therapy options are available.
Pregnancy Category
A Adequate and well-controlled studies have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus in the first trimester of pregnancy (and there is no evidence of risk in later trimesters).
B Animal reproduction studies have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women.
C Animal reproduction studies have shown an adverse effect on the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in humans, but potential benefits may warrant use in pregnant women despite potential risks.
D There is positive evidence of human fetal risk based on adverse reaction data from investigational or marketing experience or studies in humans, but potential benefits may warrant use in pregnant women despite potential risks.
X Studies in animals or humans have demonstrated fetal abnormalities and/or there is positive evidence of human fetal risk based on adverse reaction data from investigational or marketing experience, and the risks involved in use in pregnant women clearly outweigh potential benefits.
N FDA has not classified the drug.
Controlled Substances Act (CSA) Schedule
M The drug has multiple schedules. The schedule may depend on the exact dosage form or strength of the medication.
U CSA Schedule is unknown.
N Is not subject to the Controlled Substances Act.
1 Has a high potential for abuse. Has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. There is a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision.
2 Has a high potential for abuse. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States or a currently accepted medical use with severe restrictions. Abuse may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence.
3 Has a potential for abuse less than those in schedules 1 and 2. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence.
4 Has a low potential for abuse relative to those in schedule 3. It has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to those in schedule 3.
5 Has a low potential for abuse relative to those in schedule 4. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to those in schedule 4.
Alcohol
X Interacts with Alcohol.

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.