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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 medications listed below are related to or used in the treatment of this condition.

Drug name Rating Reviews Activity ? Rx/OTC Pregnancy CSA Alcohol
Aricept 5.0 34 reviews for Aricept to treat Alzheimer's Disease Rx C N
Generic name:
donepezil systemic
Drug class:
cholinesterase inhibitors
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
memantine 5.0 64 reviews for memantine to treat Alzheimer's Disease 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
Namenda 5.2 26 reviews for Namenda to treat Alzheimer's Disease Rx B N
Generic name:
memantine systemic
Drug class:
miscellaneous central nervous system agents
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
donepezil 5.0 77 reviews for donepezil to treat Alzheimer's Disease 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
Leqembi Rate Add review Rx N
Generic name:
lecanemab systemic
Drug class:
miscellaneous central nervous system agents
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
lecanemab Rate Add review Rx N
Generic name:
lecanemab systemic
Brand name:
Leqembi
Drug class:
miscellaneous central nervous system agents
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph
Exelon 6.7 12 reviews for Exelon to treat Alzheimer's Disease Rx B N
Generic name:
rivastigmine systemic
Drug class:
cholinesterase inhibitors
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
galantamine 7.6 15 reviews for galantamine to treat Alzheimer's Disease 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 for Namenda XR to treat Alzheimer's Disease 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 for rivastigmine to treat Alzheimer's Disease 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 for Aricept ODT to treat Alzheimer's Disease Rx C N
Generic name:
donepezil systemic
Drug class:
cholinesterase inhibitors
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
Namzaric 8.8 6 reviews for Namzaric to treat Alzheimer's Disease Rx C N
Generic name:
donepezil / memantine systemic
Drug class:
cholinesterase inhibitors
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
donepezil / memantine 7.7 7 reviews for donepezil / memantine to treat Alzheimer's Disease 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
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
Drug class:
vitamins
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Natural Product Monographs
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 for Razadyne ER to treat Alzheimer's Disease 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
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
Alpha E Rate Add review Rx/OTC C N
Generic name:
vitamin e systemic
Drug class:
vitamins
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
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
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph
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
Drug class:
miscellaneous central nervous system agents
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph
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

Frequently asked questions

View more FAQ

Learn more about Alzheimer's Disease

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.