| ACETYLCHOLINESTERASE (AChE) INHIBITORSa |
| Donepezil HCl (Aricept®, Aricept® ODT) | Mild to moderate and severe dementia of the Alzheimer's type | Hypersensitivity to donepezil HCl or to piperidine derivatives. | Precautions: Asthma or obstructive pulmonary disease; cardiac conduction abnormalities; concurrent use of NSAIDs; history of ulcer disease; seizure history; bladder flow obstruction. |
| Adverse effects: Diarrhea, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, muscle cramps, insomnia, fatigue, syncope, gastrointestinal hemorrhage. |
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| Galantamine HBr (Razadyne®, Razadyne® ER [formerly named Reminyl®]) | Mild to moderate dementia of the Alzheimer's type | Hypersensitivity to galantamine HBr or any excipients used in the formulation. | Precautions: Asthma or obstructive pulmonary disease; bladder outflow obstruction; cardiac conduction disorders; increased mortality rate in mild cognitive impairment; concomitant NSAID use; seizures; moderate-severe hepatic impairment; moderate-severe renal impairment; history of ulcer disease. |
| Adverse effects: Weight loss, diarrhea, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, headache, gastrointestinal hemorrhage, syncope. |
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| Rivastigmine tartrate (Exelon®, Exelon® Patch) | Mild to moderate (Exelon) and mild, moderate, and severe dementia (Exelon Patch) of the Alzheimer's type (Note. Exelon is also approved for mild to moderate dementia associated with Parkinson's disease.) | Hypersensitivity to rivastigmine, other carbamate derivatives, or other components of the formulation. | Precautions: Asthma or obstructive pulmonary disease; extrapyramidal symptoms; seizures; peptic ulcers or gastrointestinal bleeding; sick sinus syndrome or other supraventricular cardiac conduction conditions; urinary obstruction. |
| Adverse effects: Dizziness, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, headache, tremor, syncope, anorexia, weight loss, gastrointestinal hemorrhage, bronchospasm. |
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| Tacrine HCl (Cognex®) | Mild to moderate dementia of the Alzheimer's type | Hypersensitivity to tacrine or acridine derivatives; patients previously treated with Cognex who developed treatment-associated jaundice, a serum bilirubin >3 mg/dL, and/or those exhibiting clinical signs or symptoms of hypersensitivity (e.g., rash, fever) in association with alanine transaminase/serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase elevations. | Precautions: Asthma; concomitant NSAID use; current or a history of abnormal liver function; history of bradyarrhythmia, conduction abnormalities, or sick sinus syndrome; seizures; history of ulcer disease. |
| Adverse effects: Diarrhea, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, increased liver aminotransferase level, myalgia, ataxia, hepatotoxicity, seizure, syncope. |
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| ERGOT ALKALOID |
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| Ergoloid mesylates (Hydergine®) | Alzheimer's disease, dementia | Hypersensitivity to ergoloid mesylate, ergot, or any components; acute or chronic psychosis. | Precautions: Multiple potential drug interactions. |
| Adverse effects: Flushing, rash, nausea, vomiting, headache, blurred vision, nasal sinus congestion, bradyarrhythmia, orthostatic hypotension. |
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| N-METHYL-D-ASPARTATE (NMDA) RECEPTOR ANTAGONIST |
| Memantine HCl (Namenda®, Namenda XR ®) | Moderate to severe dementia of the Alzheimer's type | Hypersensitivity to memantine HCl or any excipients used in the formulation. | Precautions: Genitourinary conditions that raise urine pH; moderate-severe renal impairment. |
| Adverse effects: Constipation, diarrhea, confusion, dizziness, headache. |
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| NMDA RECEPTOR ANTAGONIST/AChE INHIBITORa |
| Memantine HCl/donepezil HCl (Namzaric®) | Moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease currently stabilized on a combination of memantine and donepezil | Hypersensitivity to memantine HCl or any excipients used in the formulation, donepezil HCl, or piperidine derivatives. | Precautions: Similar to memantine and donepezil. |
| Adverse effects: Similar to memantine and donepezil. |
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| PERIPHERAL VASODILATOR |
| Isoxsuprine (Vasodilan®) | Dementia | Hypersensitivity to isoxsuprine, recent arterial bleeding, heart disease. | Precautions: Bleeding disorders, chest pain, glaucoma, stroke. |
| Adverse effects: Hypotension, tachyarrhythmia, rash, abdominal discomfort, nausea, dizziness, pulmonary edema. |