Pharmacy, Coffs Harbour Hospital, NSW; Mrs Robyn Saunders, Consultant Pharmacist, Vic. Pharmacological Management of Alzheimer’s Disease

With the ageing of the population, Alzheimer’s disease (AD) represents an individual and public health problem of enor-mous significance. Research is ongoing worldwide in the search for more effective treatments, including drugs to slow or pre-vent progression in AD. Three cholinesterase inhibitor drugs (donepezil, rivastigmine and galantamine) are currently subsi-dised in Australia for the management of core cognitive symp-toms in mild to moderate AD. Other drugs are available for the secondary management of behavioural and psychological symp-toms associated with AD. This article reviews the pharmaco-logical management of AD, treatment efficacy, side effects, and practical issues in drug use. J Pharm Pract Res 2003; 33: 24-9