Table 5.

Frequency distribution of side effects in the 4 study groups

Side effect	Donepezil	Rivastigmine	MLC601	Galantamine	p value
Nausea	14 (21.2%)	15 (22.7%)	6 (9.1%)	21 (31.8%)	0.01*
Vomiting	4 (6.1%)	8 (12.1%)	1 (1.5%)	10 (15.2%)	0.02*
Diarrhea	5 (7.6%)	9 (13.6%)	3 (4.5%)	5 (7.6%)	0.28
Anorexia	15 (23.1%)	11 (16.7%)	4 (6.1%)	17 (25.8%)	0.01*
Weight loss	4 (6.1%)	7 (10.6%)	1 (1.5%)	3 (4.5%)	0.15
Abdominal discomfort	3 (4.5%)	7 (10.6%)	0	9 (13.6%)	0.01*
Tenesmus	4 (6.1%)	14 (21.2%)	4 (6.1%)	4 (6.1%)	0.005*
Abdominal pain	8 (12.1%)	9 (13.6%)	4 (6.1%)	10 (15.2%)	0.38
No cardiac chest pain	8 (12.1%)	7 (10.6%)	3 (4.5%)	13 (19.7%)	0.06
Fatigue	2 (3.0%)	9 (13.6%)	3 (4.5%)	5 (7.6%)	0.08
Sialorrhea	0	1 (1.5%)	0	4 (6.1%)	0.03*
Constipation	9 (13.6%)	10 (15.2%)	0	6 (9.1%)	0.01*
Hyperhidrosis	3 (4.5%)	3 (4.5%)	0	2 (3.0%)	0.37
Gastrointestinal bleeding	0	1 (1.5%)	0	2 (3.0%)	0.29
Cardiac arrhythmia	0	1 (1.5%)	0	0	0.39
Palpitation	5 (7.6%)	4 (6.1%)	1 (1.5%)	5 (7.6%)	0.38
Light-headedness	2 (3.0%)	8 (12.1%)	2 (3.0%)	4 (6.1%)	0.09
Hallucination	3 (4.5%)	3 (4.5%)	0	1 (1.5%)	0.26
Drowsiness	1 (1.5%)	5 (7.6%)	0	0	0.009*
Depression	2 (3.0%)	5 (7.6%)	0	2 (3.0%)	0.11
Dizziness	4 (6.1%)	15 (22.7%)	1 (1.5%)	8 (12.1%)	0.001*
Headache	9 (13.6%)	14 (21.2%)	1 (1.5%)	13 (19.7%)	0.004*
Insomnia	11 (16.7%)	16 (24.2%)	0	8 (12.1%)	<0.0001*
Confusion	5 (7.6%)	7 (10.6%)	0	5 (7.6%)	0.08

^*p < 0.05, statistically significant.