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| |  Donepezil Improves Alzheimer's Patients' Ability To Function ST. PAUL, MN -- January 22, 1998 -- Alzheimer's disease patients suffering with memory and other cognitive impairments may find help with donepezil. The currently-available drug improves patients' cognition and ability to function, according to a study published in the January issue of Neurology. "Although donepezil is not the first treatment for AD, it is the first treatment that is practical for most patients as illustrated by the high proportion of patients that completed the study," said study co-author Lawrence Friedhoff, MD, PhD, Eisai Inc., Teaneck, N.J. "The results show that on average, an AD patient will improve cognitively after six months of treatment with donepezil while patients who receive placebo (inactive pill) will on average have worse cognition after six months." For 24 weeks, 473 patients with mild to moderately severe AD received placebo, 5 mg of donepezil or 10 mg of donepezil. As seen through standard cognitive test performance, 80 percent of the patients receiving donepezil improved or showed no decline in their abilities while taking the drug. The 10 mg dose was shown to be the optimal dose with maximum benefits and good tolerability. Following a six-week wash-out period in which everyone received placebo, no significant differences in ability were seen between the groups. "When donepezil was discontinued, patients cognitive ability declined to the same level as placebo-treated patients. Continued treatment is important to maintain the clinical benefit," Friedhoff said. "Alzheimer's patients lose brain cells that produce acetylcholine, a chemical that carries messages between brain nerve cells. "Donepezil blocks the chemical breakdown of acetylcholine and thereby increases the levels of the chemical in the brain. Donepezil's unique chemical structure makes it more specific for effects on the brain than other drugs." Although some gastrointestinal side effects, such as diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, were reported, a high percentage of patients treated with donepezil were able to tolerate the drug. Seven percent of patients receiving placebo, six percent taking 5 mg of donepezil and 17 percent receiving 10 mg discontinued the study due to adverse effects. Donepezil also has a long duration of action which allows a once-a-day dose.
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