A group of drugs that are used in the treatment of mild to moderate dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease, in which there is a deficiency of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine in the brain.
Drugs such as donepezil and rivastigmine work by blocking the action of acetylcholinesterase, the enzyme in the brain responsible for the breakdown of acetylcholine.
This raises acetylcholine levels, and, in half of all patients, the drugs slow the rate of progression of dementia.
They have no effect on dementia due to other causes, such as stroke or head injury, however.
Common side effects include nausea, dizziness, and headache.
Rarely, difficulty in passing urine may occur.... acetylcholinesterase inhibitors
any one of a class of drugs that block the action of acetylcholinesterase (see cholinesterase), an enzyme that quickly breaks down the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. This neurotransmitter is central to the functional interconnection between nerve cells in the outer layer (cortex) of the brain; the early impairment of cognitive function found in Alzheimer’s disease is associated with a reduction in acetylcholine levels. By inhibiting acetylcholine breakdown, acetylcholinesterase inhibitors have been found helpful in slowing down the rate of cognitive decline in mild to moderate dementia; they do not halt the progress of the disease. The group includes donepezil, galantamine, and rivastigmine... acetylcholinesterase inhibitor
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