Psychiatr. praxi 2018; 19(2): 58-63 | DOI: 10.36290/psy.2018.014

Pharmacotherapy of Alzheimer disease and neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia

PharmDr. Iva Prokopová, Ph.D.
Oddělení klinické farmacie, Ústavní lékárna IKEM, Praha

Alzheimer disease is the most prevalent type of dementia. A precise diagnosis is required for effective management. Cholinesteraseinhibitors are used as first line therapy to provide modest symptomatic benefit in some patients, memantine appears tohave modest benefits in patients with moderate to severe disease. Neuropsychiatric symptoms are common in dementia andcontribute to nursing home admission and caregiver stress. Identifying the genesis of the abnormal behavior is critical, in orderthat nonpharmacologic therapies are preferred over medication. Symptomatic pharmacologic treatment includes antidepressants,antipsychotics, anxiolytics and other alternatives. The following review discusses risks and benefits of particular drugs.

Keywords: Alzheimer, demention, cholinesterase inhibitors, memantine, antidepressants, antipsychotics

Published: June 26, 2018  Show citation

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Prokopová I. Pharmacotherapy of Alzheimer disease and neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia. Psychiatr. praxi. 2018;19(2):58-63. doi: 10.36290/psy.2018.014.
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