The treatments currently available in the UK for Alzheimer’s do not slow or stop the disease from getting worse, but they may help manage the symptoms for a time. It’s important to discuss your treatment options with the people involved in your care.

Cholinesterase inhibitors

People with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease could benefit from taking a drug called a cholinesterase inhibitor. These increase the amount of a chemical called acetylcholine that helps messages to travel around the brain. Cholinesterase inhibitors do not prevent the disease from getting worse but may help people to function better every day than they would do without the drug.

There are three cholinesterase inhibitors to treat Alzheimer’s:

  • donepezil (Aricept)
  • rivastigmine (Exelon)
  • galantamine (Reminyl).

 

These are given to people with mild or moderate Alzheimer’s, and doctors will continue to prescribe one of these drugs as symptoms progress, so long as it is safe and suitable to do so.

Some people with Alzheimer’s find their condition improves by taking a cholinesterase inhibitor. They may see an improvement in thinking, memory, communication, or day-to-day activities. Others may not notice an effect.

The drugs may have side-effects in some people. The most common are feeling or being sick, being unable to sleep, having diarrhoea, muscle cramps or tiredness. These effects are often mild and usually don’t last long. Most people do not get these side effects.

Memantine

Memantine (Ebixa or Axura) is recommended for people with moderate or severe Alzheimer’s disease, and for people with moderate Alzheimer’s if cholinesterase inhibitors don’t help or are not suitable. Memantine also helps nerve cells in the brain communicate with each other. It does this by regulating a chemical called glutamate in the brain. In Alzheimer’s disease this can allow brain cells to work better for longer, and it can help to reduce the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease for a while.

 

Like cholinesterase inhibitors, memantine is not a cure or does not slow down the progression of the disease. However, it can help with some symptoms. Some people taking memantine may not notice any effect at all. Others may find that their condition stays the same when they would have expected it to decline.

People may experience side-effects when taking memantine. The most common side-effects are headaches, dizziness, drowsiness, and constipation. These are usually short-term effects.

 

Cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine are normally given as tablets or capsules, but they are available in a liquid form too. Donepezil is also available as a tablet that dissolves on the tongue, and Rivastigmine is available in patches, where the drug is absorbed through the skin.

Your doctor will discuss the most suitable form for you. People with moderate or severe Alzheimer’s disease are sometimes offered combination therapy, where a cholinesterase inhibitor and memantine are given together.

 

There are non-drug treatments available to manage symtpoms of Alzheimer's disease. You can find out more in our booklet, treatments for dementia and discuss your options with your doctor or care provider.

Have you or a loved one recently been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease?

If you have recently been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and would like to share your story to inspire others or help shape our work please get in touch via stories@alzheimersresearchuk.org

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Treatments for dementia

Read more about treatments for dementia, including information on treating depression, anxiety and agitation and for information on antipsychotics.

What is Alzheimer's disease?

Find out more about the symptoms and causes of Alzheimer's disease, and the treatments currently available.

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Alzheimer’s Research UK has a wide range of information about dementia. Order booklets or download them from our online form.

This information was updated in May 2022 and is due to be reviewed in May 2024, it was written by Alzheimer’s Research UK’s Information Services team with input from lay and expert reviewers. Please get in touch if you’d like a version with references or in a different format.

 

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