To print: Select File and then Print from your browser's menu --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Title: Exelon Effective For Mild To Moderate Alzheimer's URL: http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/EAB16.htm Doctor's Guide March 5, 1999
LONDON, ENGLAND -- March 5, 1999 -- Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, such as tacrine and donepezil, which have been designed to boost the apparent chemical deficiency in the brain caused by Alzheimer's disease, are the most successful treatments to date. In this week's issue of the British Medical Journal, professor Michael Rösler from Psychiatrische Universitätsklinik, Germany and colleagues report the finding of the first large trial of another acetylcholinesterase inhibitor used by patients suffering from Alzheimer's, in a mainly European population. The authors' six month trial involved the drug Exelon(R) (rivastigmine) and they found that it was effective in treating some of the symptoms of patients with mild or moderate Alzheimer's disease. The research team also discovered that the effects of rivastigmine seem to be dose dependent -- those patients receiving a higher dose of the drug showed clinically relevant (and statistically significant) improvements. The researchers draw attention to the gastrointestinal side-effects experienced by some patients (27 per cent of those taking the higher dose of rivastigmine discontinued treatment owing to adverse effects), but report that these effects were mild and short lived and only occurred after the dosage had been increased. Related Links: British Medical Journal --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright © 1999 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of P\S\L content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of P\S\L. P\S\L shall not be liable for any errors, omissions or delays in this content or any other content on its sites, newsletters or other publications, nor for any decisions or actions taken in reliance on such content. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This news story was printed from *Doctor's Guide to the Internet* located at http://www.docguide.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to News Story Page This site is maintained by webmaster@pslgroup.com Please contact us with any comments, problems or bugs. All contents Copyright (c) 1998 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved.