Drugs and Treatments Used to Combat Alzheimer's
Alex Rider
Unfortunately, even though there is a huge amount of scientific
research, no cure for Alzheimer's exists at present. What is available
is a number of scientifically proven treatments for the disease.
Patient safety is one the core parts of treatment. Risks need to be
limited with reference to driving, wandering and general accidents
about the home.
A second major aspect of Alzheimer patient treatment is the education
of this degenerative disease and its related effects with the family
involved. Both support and education can minimize the need for skilled
nurses and also lower caregiver stress and burnout.
The environment of the sufferer can be modified to promote their
wellbeing. Research has found that simply re-coloring plates and cups
with very bright colors promotes Alzheimer's sufferers eating.
Confusion can be reduced by keeping everything in a strict order.
Medicines used for Alzheimer's can be administered to try to slow the
diseases progression. Cholinesterase inhibitors are one such example,
used when patients suffer from mid to strong Alzheimer's dementia. This
type of drug comes in many names; galantamine (Reminyl), donepezil
(Aricept) and rivastigmine (Exelon). Positive effects that have been
noticed are slight improvements in memory and language alongside
increased ease of coping with daily chores and reduced aggressiveness.
Behavioral problems are minimized with a number of medications. A drug
known as olanzapine (Zyprexa) and quetiapine (Seroquel) are frequently
used for Alzheimer's sufferers who have aggressive, agitative or
hallucinatory tendencies. Both are strong tranquillizers. Depression is
commonly combated with the anti-depressants citalopram (Cipramil),
fluoxetine (Prozac) and sertraline (Lustral). Anxiety-relieving drugs
you can obtain are diazepam (Valium), oxazepam (Oxazepam) and buspirone
(Buspar). Anticonvulsant drugs are carbamazepine (Tegretol) or sodium
valproate (Epilim).
What has always been very important is to ensure that the patient has
exhausted all other forms of non-drug treatment before drugs have
started to be used. Remember that particular combinations of drugs can
counteract each others effects. Also, symptoms may actually worsen with
the side effects that most drugs have. The chemistry and structure of
the brain changes with the progression of this disease, drugs that did
work may begin to lessen their effects, or in fact become useless,
after a period of time. Drugs side effects should always be asked about
with your local GP, dates when they should stop being administered also
discussed.
The progression of Alzheimer's has also been seen to slow when patients
are given doses of 1000 IU vitamin E twice daily.
Visit
http://www.alzheimersdiseasesupport.com for interesting, current
and varied information on Alzheimer's produced in an encouraging
fashion from a variety of standpoints.
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