[Pharmacotherapy for Alzheimer's disease].
BACKGROUND
So far no causal therapies are available for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. However, four drugs, namely donepezil, rivastigmine, galantamine and memantine, have been licensed for treating the symptoms of the disease.


OBJECTIVE
To systematically review the efficacy and side-effects of these drugs.


METHODS
With the help of Pubmed, Medline and the Cochrane Library the literature was searched systematically.


RESULTS
Cholinesterase-inhibitors and memantine do have a beneficial effect on cognition and daily functioning. The effect, however, is limited and the cholinesterase-inhibitors in particular frequently have side-effects.


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment with the new anti-Alzheimer drugs demands a careful and realistic approach. The drugs should not be prescribed in isolation but the treatment needs to be embedded in the entire set of currently available psychosocial intervention techniques.
Verhey
F R J
FR
Neuropsychiatrie en Ouderenpsychiatrie verbonden aan het Academisch Ziekenhuis Maastricht en de Universiteit Maastricht. F.verhey@np.unimaas.nl
D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077265:Donepezil; D005702:Galantamine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007189:Indans / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008559:Memantine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018697:Nootropic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D048448:Phenylcarbamates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010880:Piperidines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000068836:Rivastigmine; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D007189:Indans; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D018697:Nootropic Agents; D048448:Phenylcarbamates; D010880:Piperidines; D005702:Galantamine; D000077265:Donepezil; D000068836:Rivastigmine; D008559:Memantine