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.

See also: sub-topics

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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Brands and Generics

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Rx and OTC

Drug name	Rating	Reviews	Rx/OTC	Pregnancy	CSA
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

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Topics under Alzheimer's Disease

Agitation Associated with Dementia Due to Alzheimer’s Disease (2 drugs)

Drugs in development for the treatment of Alzheimer's Disease

donanemab

Learn more about Alzheimer's Disease

Anticholinergic Drugs to Avoid in the Elderly

Care guides

Alzheimer's Disease Care Notes

Symptoms and treatments

Alzheimer's Disease

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

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