There is a multitude of prescription drugs available on the market to treat the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. Since the condition cannot be cured or definitively prevented, these drugs are important in helping relieve some of the symptoms of the disease that can be debilitating and frustrating to many patients.

How Aricept Works

Aricept is one of the most popularly prescribed and widely used drugs to treat the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. The drug works by slowing the breakdown of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter in the brain. Scientists have proposed that Alzheimer’s disease may be caused in part by a chemical imbalance in the brain of neurotransmitters like acetylcholine and serotonin. Neurotransmitters are important in making sure the brain’s nerve cells can communicate with one another. Although Aricept does not cure Alzheimer’s disease or slow the progression of the actual disease, it can help to relieve troubling results of the disease, such as memory loss.

The medication is at its most effective when administered in the early stages of the disease. As soon as a diagnosis is made, depending on patient preference, treatment with Aricept can begin immediately with more successful results than if a diagnosis is made too late in the course of Alzheimer’s disease. The drug can be accompanied by side effects, which are usually generally mild. The side effects of Aricept can include vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, and insomnia. Other side effects can also include fatigue and weight loss.

The drug, otherwise known as Donepezil Hydrochloride, is taken once per day. It mainly helps patients to improve their memory, thinking, ability to do everyday activities, and even improves behavior. These improvements in behavior include reducing the amount of delusions, apathy, and night roaming or wandering experienced by Alzheimer’s patients. One study has shown that people who take Aricept for extended periods of time can live at home for up to two years longer than patients who take the drug for less time, including less than six months. For patients with mild to moderate symptoms, Aricept may be the appropriate and best drug for treatment.