NR 546 Week 8 Dementia Medication
Table / Dementia medication table
LATEST UPDATE 2025/2026 GRADED
A+
Drug Name and Class FDA Indication (include
stages )
Neurotransmitters
Affected/Mechanism of
Action
Target Symptoms
Short-acting,
intermediate-acting, or
long-acting.
Duration of Action and
Half-life (T1/2),
CYP 450 enzyme
Notable Side Effects/Precautions /Patient Education
Instructions
Donepezil (Aricept) Alzheimer’s disease – mild,
moderate, and severe
Acetylcholine enzyme
inhibitor
Reversibly but
noncompetitively inhibits
centrally acting
acetylcholinesterase to
make more Ach available.
Increase Ach compensates
in part for degenerating
cholinergic neurons in
neocortex that regulate
memory
Metabolized by CYP450
2D6 and CYP450 3A4
Elimination half-life
approximately 70 hours
Nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, appetite loss, increased
gastric acid secretion, weight loss, insomnia, dizziness
May exacerbate asthma or pulmonary disease.
Increased gastric secretion may increase the risk of
ulcers, bradycardia or heartblock may occur in patients
with or without cardiac impairment.
Dramatic reversal of symptoms not generally seen with
cholinesterase inhibitors.
Treats behavioral and psychological symptoms of
Alzheimers dementia as well as cognitive symptoms.
Taper to avoid withdrawal.
Discontinuation of medication may lead to notable
deterioration in memory and behavior which may not
be restored when drug is restarted or another
cholinesterase inhibitor is initiated.