Antidementia drugs

Aniracetam is a nootropic drug that has been tried in senile dementia. It is given orally in usual doses of 1.5 g daily.

A mixture of dihydroergocornine mesilate (C31H41N5O5,CH4O3S = 659.8), dihydroergocristine mesilate, ?-dihydroergocryptine mesilate, and ?-dihydroergocryptine mesilate (epicriptine mesilate). It contains 30 to 35% of dihydroergocornine, 30 to 35% of dihydroergocristine, 20 to 25% of ?-dihydroergocryptine, and 10 to 13% of ?-dihydroergocryptine.

The hydrobromide of galantamine, an alkaloid which has been obtained from the Caucasian snowdrop (Voronov’s snowdrop), Galanthus woronowii (Amaryllidaceae), and related species. A white to almost white powder. Sparingly soluble in water; very slightly soluble in alcohol; soluble in 0.

The monohydrate occurs as a white powder. Freely soluble in water, in alcohol, in dimethyl sulfoxide, in methyl alcohol, in propylene glycol, and in 0.1N hydrochloric acid; sparingly soluble in linoleic acid and in macrogol 400. Hepatotoxicity is common, and may be severe.

Effects on the gastrointestinal tract. A 67-year-old woman experienced severe vomiting after rivastigmine, in an oral dose of 4.5 mg, was mistakenly reintroduced without the recommended titration phase; the vomiting was so severe that the patient also suffered a rupture of the oesophagus that needed corrective surgery.

Common adverse effects with memantine include constipation, dizziness, headache, hypertension, and somnolence. Less common reactions such as anxiety, hallucinations, confusion, fatigue, abnormal gait, hypertonia, vomiting, fungal infections, cystitis, thromboembolism, and increased libido have also occurred. Isolated cases of psychotic reactions and pancreatitis have been reported.

Freely soluble in water; soluble in alcohol. Piracetam is reported to produce insomnia or somnolence, weight gain, hyperkinesia, nervousness, and depression.