[Effect of memantine treatment on patients with moderate-to-severe Alzheimer's disease treated with donepezil].
OBJECTIVE
Investigating the behavioral and cognitive effect of memantine in moderate to severe patients with Alzheimer's disease receiving donepezil.


METHODS
43 patients were enrolled in this prospective, randomized, parallel group study. There were no significant imbalances between the treatment groups in demographic and baseline clinical characteristics. Cognitive and global measures were collected at baseline and at the end of weeks 4, 8, 12 and 24. Behavioral measures were collected at baseline, at the end of week 12 and at week 24.


RESULTS
Memantine--treated patients showed significantly less deterioration in their functionality. Of patients who exhibited agitation/aggression at baseline, those treated with memantine and donepezil showed significant reduction of symptoms compared with donepezil--treated patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment with memantine was well tolerated and reduced agitation/aggression, irritability, and appetite eating disturbances in patients who were agitated at baseline and delazed its emergence in those who were free of agitation at baseline.
Creţu
Oana
O
Secţia Psihiatrie VII acuţi, Spitalul Clinic de Psihiatrie "Socola" Iaşi.
Szalontay
Andreea Silvana
AS
Chiriţă
Roxana
R
Chiriţă
V
V
D000368:Aged; D000374:Aggression / Q000187:drug effects; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects; D000077265:Donepezil; D015259:Dopamine Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007189:Indans / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008559:Memantine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D018697:Nootropic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010880:Piperidines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D015259:Dopamine Agents; D007189:Indans; D018697:Nootropic Agents; D010880:Piperidines; D000077265:Donepezil; D008559:Memantine