Table (1).

Summary of pharmacological treatments for AD and PDD.

Drug Name	Drug Type	Standard Dosage in AD	Standard Dosage in PDD	Mechanism of Action	Efficacy in AD	Efficacy in PDD	Common Side Effects in AD	Common Side Effects in PDD
Rivastigmine	Cholinesterase inhibitor	Capsule: 3-12mg/day, Patch: 4.6-13.3mg/day	Capsule: 3-12mg /day, Patch: 4.6-9.5mg/day	Inhibits the action of acetylcholine and butyrylcholine in the brain	Efficacious for the treatment of mild to moderate AD	Efficacious for the treatment of mild to moderate PDD	Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, loss of appetite, weight loss, muscle weakness	Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, dizziness, tremor
Donepezil	Cholinesterase inhibitor	5-10mg/day	5-10mg/day	Delays the breakdown of acetylcholine released into synaptic clefts	Efficacious for patients with mild, moderate, and severe AD	Insufficient evidence	Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, headache, loss of appetite, weight loss, muscle cramps, fatigue	Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, insomnia
Galantamine	Cholinesterase inhibitor	8-24mg/day	4-24mg/day	Inhibits acetylcholinesterase, and stimulates nicotinic acetylcholine receptors to release more acetylcholine in the brain	Efficacious for the treatment of mild to moderate AD	Insufficient evidence	Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, headache, loss of appetite, weight loss	Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
Memantine	NMDA receptor antagonist	5-20mg/day	5-20mg/day	Regulates glutamate activation and blocks the toxic effects of overactive glutamatergic activity	Efficacious for the treatment of moderate to severe AD	Insufficient evidence	Dizziness, headache, confusion, constipation	Dizziness, tiredness, fall