Table 1.
FDA approved drugs for the treatment of AD (Adapted from Medications for Memory Loss|Alzheimer’s Association).
| Drug Name (Generic/Brand) |
Manufacturer | Drug Type | Drug Use | Mechanism | Side Effects |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aducanumab Aduhelm™ |
Biogen, Eisai Co. Ltd., Tokyo, Japan | Disease-modifying immunotherapy | Alzheimer’s disease (MCI or mild dementia) | Removes abnormal Aβ helping to reduce the number of plaques in the brain | Amyloid-related imaging abnormalities (ARIA), which can lead to fluid buildup or bleeding in the brain; headache, dizziness, falls, diarrhea, confusion |
| Donepezil Aricept® |
Eisai Inc. and Pfizer Inc., New York, NY, USA | Cholinesterase inhibitor |
Mild, moderate, and severe symptoms of AD | Prevents the breakdown of acetylcholine in the brain | Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle cramps, fatigue, weight loss, loss of appetite, and increased frequency of bowel movements. |
| Rivastigmine Exelon® |
Novartis, Basel, Switzerland | Cholinesterase inhibitor |
Mild to moderate symptoms of AD | Prevents acetylcholine and butyrylcholine from being degraded in the brain | Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, indigestion, muscle weakness |
| Galantamine Razadyne® |
Ortho-McNeil Neurologics, Johnson & Johnson, Titusville, NJ, USA. | Cholinesterase inhibitor |
Mild to moderate symptoms of AD | Prevents the breakdown of acetylcholine and stimulates nicotinic receptors to release more acetylcholine into the brain | Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, decreased appetite, dizziness, headache |
| Memantine Namenda® |
Allergan plc, Dublin, Ireland | N-methyl D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonist | Moderate to severe symptoms of AD | Blocks the toxic effects associated with excess glutamate and regulates glutamate activation | Dizziness, headache, diarrhea, constipation, confusion |
| Memantine + Donepezil Namzaric® |
Actavis and Adamas Pharmaceuticals, Dublin, Ireland | NMDA antagonist and cholinesterase inhibitor | Moderate to severe symptoms of AD | Blocks the toxic effects associated with excess glutamate and prevents the breakdown of acetylcholine in the brain | Nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, increased frequency of bowel movements, headache, constipation, confusion, and dizziness |