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In the 1990s, a class of treatments called cholinesterase inhibitors was approved for the treatment of mild to moderate Alzheimers disease. In 2003, a new type of therapy, Namenda, was approved for the treatment of moderate to severe Alzheimers disease. Namenda works in a different way than previously approved treatments, by helping to regulate levels of glutamate, a messenger chemical that the brain uses to process, store, and retrieve information. The only approved treatment for moderate to severe Alzheimers disease, Namenda may help with memory, behavior, and activities of daily living. Because of their different mechanisms of action, Namenda and cholinesterase inhibitors can be used successfully in combination when treating Alzheimers disease, explained R. Malcolm Stewart, M.D., Director of the American Parkinson Disease Association Information & Referral Center at Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas, TX. In fact, I consider combination therapy to be the best overall way to treat patients with this disease. A 2004 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that combining Namenda with a stable dose of a cholinesterase inhibitor provides greater cognitive, functional, global and behavioral benefits to people with moderate to severe Alzheimers disease than treatment with a cholinesterase inhibitor alone. Tracy Evans cares for her long-time friend Alice Safey, who has been diagnosed with moderate Alzheimers disease by her physician. Evans said the addition of Namenda to her friends regimen has made an important difference. Alice is not only happier and less agitated since she started on Namenda, Evans noted, but she is able to enjoy certain activities, like walking outside, like she did before she developed Alzheimers. Dr. Stewart encourages families who suspect a loved one may have Alzheimers disease to seek a diagnosis right away. Getting a diagnosis is important because it allows the patient to begin treatment, which can slow the progression of symptoms of the disease, he explained. For families with loved ones whove already been diagnosed, Dr. Stewart suggests that caregivers speak with their doctor about the potential benefits of combination therapy. Namenda is available by prescription in the U.S. For more information, ask your doctor about Namenda or visit www.Namenda.com. Individual results may vary by patient. Patients who are hypersensitive to memantine HCl or any ingredients used in its formulation should not take Namenda. The most common adverse events reported with Namenda vs placebo were dizziness, confusion, headache, and constipation. Patients with severe kidney disease should take a reduced dosage of Namenda. Research shows that nearly half of Alzheimers disease patients are first diagnosed in the moderate to severe stages of the disease. |
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