Benefits of Taking Exelon and Namenda Together

Exelon and Namenda are both Alzheimer's drugs prescribed in varying stages of the disease. They act to slow the symptoms, which include memory loss, depression, disorientation, mood swings. Together, however, these drugs can greatly improve the quality of life for an Alzheimer's patient.

Key Neurotransmitters

• Key chemical components, or neurotransmitters, in the brain affect the progression of Alzheimer's symptoms. One such neurotransmitter, acetylcholine, stimulates the brain muscle, resulting in memory and thought. In Alzheimer's disease, the acetylcholine breaks down until the amount of the chemical being produced isn't enough to stimulate the brain. Glutamate is another neurotransmitter that stimulates the neurons within the cells in order to get the brain cells working. In an Alzheimer's patient, too much glutamate is being produced, causing an overstimulation of the brain cells, leading to cell death.

Function of Exelon and Namenda on the Neurotransmitters

• Exelon protects the chemical acetylcholine from this breakdown and in so doing slows the memory loss and loss of cognition. Namenda protects the brain cells from the excess glutamate that eventually kills them. Instead of concentrating on one cause of Alzheimers symptoms, Namenda and Exelon together target two issues, which makes this drug combination work better than individual drugs.

Significance

• Exelon works best with mild to moderate symptoms, while Namenda is very effective in the earliest stages of the disease. Together, these drugs quell symptoms and slow the disease. They are most notable for slowing what doctors call "cognitive decline," or dementia. The combination works only in mild to moderate stage Alzheimer's disease. Only Namenda has proved to provide some treatment to patients in the advanced stages of the disease.

Effects

• Alone, these drugs are very helpful. However, the drugs together seem to boost each other's effects, tackling the glutamate overproduction and the acetycholine breakdown in the brain of an Alzheimer's patient. The Exelon/Namenda combination also has been known restore some of the basic functions needed for daily life. Patients retain not only their memory, but also the ability form and use words. Johns Hopkins Medicine describes patients being able to dress, bathe and groom themselves, tasks that quickly were forgotten without the drug cocktail.

Misconceptions

• Taking Exelon and Namenda together does not work for all Alzheimer's patients. The combination also cannot reverse the effects of moderate to severe stages of the disease. The drugs work to slow the progression of symptoms. These results, however, may not be fully realized for days or an even month after the patient begins the drug treatment. Johns Hopkins Medicine also cautions patients that the drugs affect different people in different ways. Some may not be able to take the drugs because of the side effects that may include headaches, disorientation, fatigue and dizziness.