AstridGuide – Dementia & Alzheimer Guide

Treatment for dementia

There are certain types of treatment prescribed by doctors for patients suffering from dementia. Treatment normally differs from patient to patient and it depends on the extent to which the disease has progressed, the reactions of the patients to the treatment, etc.

1. Dementia Drugs

Cholinergic drugs have proven to be administered by doctors to patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia and it accounts for 80% of the cases of dementia in patients. Acetylcholine is important in transmitting messages properly between the brain cells, particularly in the areas of the brain which carry out memory functions.

Drugs falling in the category of cholinesterase inhibitors prevent the breakdown of vital chemicals like acetylcholine in the brain. The most common cholinesterase inhibitors are Exelon, Aricept and Reminyl. Regular use of cholinesterase inhibitors results in improvement in cognitive functions for some people who are suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. However people taking Alzheimer’s disease drugs may suffer from side effects like nausea and diarrhea.

2. Treatment of different symptoms of dementia

The symptoms of dementia include symptoms like sleeplessness, depression, loss of memory, loss of using proper words to express things etc. Treatments like improving the confidence level of the patients and also reducing the pain that the patient may suffer from.

3. Tranquillizers

Doctors may also use tranquillizers to control sudden mood swings and aggressive behavior in the patient. The most common types of tranquillizers used are Serenace and Melleril. These types of drugs may lead to stiffness in the patient.

4. Drugs for treating anxiety

Treatment of anxiety related issues can be carried out with the help of drugs falling in the category of benzodiazepines. Benzodiazepines prove to be very good in reducing anxiety in patients but they also come bundled with their own side effects and their effectiveness reduces with the passage of time.

5. Drugs for treating depression

There are certain drugs available in the market to reduce depression in patients. Care should be taken to buy those drugs that have minimum side effects.

6. Drugs for sleep related disorders

Certain types of drugs are prescribed to the patients to treat sleep disorders like insomnia and night time wandering. These types of drugs should be taken if there is no option left as people may become addicted to them and then reducing or controlling the intake of such types of drugs may become difficult for the patient.