Donepezil, rivastigmine and galantamine
A healthy brain contains natural chemicals that allow nerve cells to talk to each other. One of these chemicals is called acetylcholine. When a person has Alzheimer’s disease or dementia with Lewy bodies, they have less acetylcholine. This means that their nerve cells lose the ability to talk to each other properly.
Cholinesterase inhibitors, like donepezil, rivastigmine and galantamine, can boost acetylcholine levels. This helps to keep the brain working normally for longer. All three cholinesterase inhibitors work in a similar way, but one might be better for someone than another. For instance, a person may have fewer side effects from one.
Eventually, the disease will damage enough of the brain that these medications have much less of an effect. At this stage, the person’s symptoms will start to get worse again.
Memantine for dementia
Memantine works differently to the other medications. People with Alzheimer’s disease can have too much of a chemical called glutamate. This damages their nerve cells and makes it harder for them to send messages. Memantine protects a person’s nerve cells by blocking glutamate.
