Table 1.

Current FDA approved drugs to treat AD

Drug	Trade name	Mode of action	Treatment stage
Donepezil	Aricept	Acetylcholinesterase inhibitora	All stages
Galantamine	Razadyne	Acetylcholinesterase inhibitora	Mild to moderate
Rivastigmine	Exelon	Acetylcholinesterase inhibitora	Mild to moderate
Memantine	Namenda	NMDA receptor antagonist	Mild
Donepezil + memantine	Namzaric	Acetylcholinesterase inhibitor + NMDA receptor antagonistb	Moderate to severe

^aMay delay or slow worsening of symptoms. Effectiveness varies from person to person

^bEffective in individuals with moderate to severe AD who are taking a cholinesterase inhibitor might benefit by also taking memantine