| As is well known there is nothing that can be | | | | such drugs which all have unwanted side effects. |
| done to halt the underlying pathological processes | | | | Buspirone is often initially tried for |
| involved in dementia. However, something can be | | | | mild-to-moderate anxiety. When depression is |
| done to alleviate the associated symptoms and to | | | | marked it will be treated with tetracyclic |
| prevent distress in dementia sufferers. This article | | | | antidepressants in order to avoid the toxic |
| describes some of the medications which are | | | | effects on the heart of the tricyclic group. |
| being currently used to treat the symptoms, and | | | | Some drugs such as Memantine have been |
| what they do. | | | | approved for treatment of moderate to severe |
| Sleep disturbance, agitation and depression are | | | | Alzheimer's disease. Using this kind of NMDA |
| common symptoms associated with dementia, | | | | (N-methyl-D-aspartate) blocker can lead to |
| and they can be managed by the use of suitable | | | | modest improvement in activities of daily living |
| (usually prescription-only) drugs. Nocturnal | | | | which are so important to sufferers and to |
| restlessness is particularly wearing on the family | | | | carers, such as eating, grooming and dressing. |
| or the carers, and the use of hypnotics (chloral, | | | | Even small improvements can make a significant |
| chlormethiazole, a short-acting benzodiazepine | | | | difference to carers in their interactions with the |
| such as temazepam or lorazepam, or a | | | | person with dementia. Other studies have |
| combination of small doses of a chloral compound | | | | reported similar improvements through the use of |
| with a tranquillizing drug such as promazine) can | | | | selegiline. |
| be of some help. However, improved sleep may | | | | Other medications used in dementia include |
| be associated with increased incontinence of urine | | | | estrogens (in women); antioxidants, particularly in |
| and those caring for the dementia sufferer may | | | | vascular dementia; and anti-inflammatory agents, |
| need to make sure they use disposable absorbent | | | | presumably because they may protect blood flow |
| pads at night. | | | | in the brain. Finally, statins (such as atorvastatin or |
| Barbiturates will be avoided for night sedation, or | | | | pravastatin) may reduce the chance of developing |
| the control of agitation, because they tend to | | | | Alzheimer's disease in the first place. Choline and |
| produce confusion. Phenothiazines, such as | | | | lecithin have been used in the treatment of |
| thioridazine and promazine, or haloperidol, are | | | | Alzheimer's disease on the assumption that there |
| helpful in relieving agitation and aggressive or | | | | is failure of acetylcholine synthesis, but there is no |
| repetitive behavior, but care must be taken with | | | | firm evidence yet of any practical value. |