title: An N-of-1 randomized controlled trial ('N-of-1 trial') of donepezil in the treatment of non-progressive amnestic syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  a professional man sustained a residual, persisting, isolated impairment of short-term memory secondary to severe carbon monoxide poisoning. Informal, open trial of the cholinesterase inhibitor donepezil resulted in uncertain benefit.
  
  
  METHODS
  an N-of-1 randomized, double-blind controlled trial of donepezil against placebo. Placebo-induced headache permitted evaluation of donepezil at only the 5 mg dose.
  
  
  RESULTS
  there was no improvement in short-term memory.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  the trial excluded significant benefit of donepezil 5 mg in this patient, preventing long-term unnecessary prescription. Beneficial effects in other similar patients or at higher dosage cannot be excluded.
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Geratology, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford OX2 6HE, UK. james.price@geratology.oxford.ac.uk
authors.forename: James D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Price
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Grimley Evans
mesh_terms: D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077265:Donepezil; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D007189:Indans / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008570:Memory, Short-Term; D010880:Piperidines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D007189:Indans; D010880:Piperidines; D000077265:Donepezil