Classes
DEA Class; Rx
Common Brand Names; Razadyne ER
- Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors, Central
Description
Oral cholinesterase inhibitor
Used for the symptomatic treatment of mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease; may provide cognitive benefit in mixed vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s disease
A slow dosage titration is required to limit GI side effects
Indications
Indicated for mild-to-moderate demential of the Alzheimer’s type
For the treatment of mild to moderate vascular dementia
For the treatment of mild to moderately severe Dementia with Lewy bodies
Contraindications
Hypersensitivity
Adverse Effects
>10%
- Nausea (20-25%)
- Diarrhea (11-15%)
- Vomiting (11-15%)
1-10%
- Abdominal pain
- Anorexia
- Muscle cramp
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Weight loss
- Depression
- Insomnia
- UTI
- Somnolence
- Anemia
- Syncope
Warnings
Moderate hepatic or renal impairment: max 8 mg q12hr (conventional) or 16 mg qDay (ER)
Not recommended in severe hepatic or renal impairment
Dose-related increase in risk of syncope reported
Renamed Razadyne from Reminyl in the US to avoid confusion with Amaryl
Serious skin reactions (Stevens-Johnson syndrome and acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis) reported; inform patients and caregivers that therapy should be discontinued at first appearance of skin rash, unless rash is clearly not drug-related; do not resume treatment and consider alternative therapy if signs or symptoms suggest a serious skin reaction
As a cholinesterase inhibitor, therapy is likely to exaggerate neuromuscular blocking effects of succinylcholine-type and similar neuromuscular blocking agents during anesthesia
Pregnancy and Lactation
There are no adequate data on developmental risk associated with use in pregnant women
There are no adequate data on developmental risk associated with use in pregnant women
Maximum Dosage
24 mg/day PO.
24 mg/day PO.
Not indicated.
Not indicated.