About the Pharmacological Treatment of Dementia

Varying forms of dementia affect the brain in different ways. Some dementia is related to Illnesses, such as AIDS and alcohol abuse, but the most common form of dementia is Alzheimer's disease. There is at present no cure for dementia but there are ways to lessen the symptoms that plague its sufferers.

Antipsychotics

• Doctors will sometimes prescribe antipsychotics to dementia patients. These drugs are not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of dementia. Nonetheless they may be used in the hopes of treating some of the cognitive symptoms of dementia such as delusions, hallucinations, and aggression. Two antipsychotics commonly prescribed for this purpose are Risperdal and Zyprexa.

  Haloperidol, an often prescribed antipsychotic and heavy tranquilizer, has some troubling side effects that are common for dementia patients. This drug often causes tremors and joint stiffness similar to the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Older patients--especially those over 50--are more subject to these side effects than younger patients.

Antidepressants

• Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, frequently referred to as SSRI, are a category of antidepressants. They are prescribed for the depression that often accompanies dementia. This type of medication regulates the levels of serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is associated with general feelings of well-being. Some doctors may not prescribe this type of medication for symptoms of dementia and those who do prescribe it must do so with caution. SSRI antidepressants can cause delirium, especially in those with dementia. The most often prescribed antidepressants are Prozac and Zoloft.

Other

• One medication being used to treat some of the cognitive effects of dementia is Exelon. Exelon is especially helpful because it can be administered in a skin patch. This makes it much easier for caregivers to know that the patient is getting the proper daily dosage.

  Memory loss is one of the defining symptoms of dementia and it is now being slowed by cholinesterase inhibitors. These medications act in a rather complicated way. They work by suppressing the enzyme acetylcholinesterase that over time destroys a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine. This neurotransmitter is vital to memory function.

  When a person has Alzheimer's disease, that person's brain receives too much calcium. This is one of the reasons brain function is affected so drastically. Memantine is a new medication that prevents excess calcium from moving into the brain cells.