HOMEPRODUCTSCOMPANYCONTACTFAQResearchDictionaryPharmaSign Up FREE or Login

Donepezil for psychotropic-induced memory loss.

AbstractBACKGROUND:
Donepezil is an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor marketed for treatment of memory loss and behavioral deterioration associated with the acetylcholine deficit of Alzheimer's disease. We investigated the utility and tolerability of donepezil in nongeriatric affective illness for treatment of psychotropic-induced memory loss, dry mouth, and constipation.
METHOD:
Nondemented outpatients with stabilized DSM-IV affective illness took 5 mg/day of donepezil for 3 weeks and then increased to 10 mg/day in open trials. Self-rating scales of target symptoms were completed by patients before and 3 to 4 weeks after starting each dose condition. Patients who chose to continue donepezil therapy returned for clinical monitoring every 4 to 8 weeks.
RESULTS:
Eleven women and 11 men (mean +/- SD age = 45.4+/-8.5 years) completed donepezil trials. Nineteen patients with memory loss rated improvement while taking 5 mg/day of donepezil (p<.001); subsequently, 6 rated further improvement with 10 mg/day (p = .057). Donepezil, 5 mg/day, also reduced ratings of dry mouth (N = 16; p<.001) and constipation (N = 11; p<.05). Side effects included insomnia, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea; surprisingly, 2 bipolar patients became manic within hours of starting donepezil. Sixteen patients (72%) continued donepezil for an average of 7 months. Consideration of family histories suggested that donepezil response in affective illness may be an early indicator of vulnerability to dementia of the Alzheimer's type.
CONCLUSION:
(1) Donepezil can reduce memory loss, dry mouth, and constipation in nongeriatric affective patients, but may trigger mania; and (2) long-term follow-up will reveal the predictive value for dementia of donepezil's memory restoration in nongeriatric subjects.
AuthorsF M Jacobsen, L Comas-Díaz
JournalThe Journal of clinical psychiatry (J Clin Psychiatry) Vol. 60 Issue 10 Pg. 698-704 (Oct 1999) ISSN: 0160-6689 [Print] United States
PMID10549687 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article)
Chemical References
  • Cholinesterase Inhibitors
  • Indans
  • Piperidines
  • Psychotropic Drugs
  • Donepezil
Topics
  • Adult
  • Ambulatory Care
  • Cholinesterase Inhibitors (administration & dosage, adverse effects, therapeutic use)
  • Constipation (chemically induced, prevention & control)
  • Depressive Disorder (drug therapy)
  • Diarrhea (chemically induced)
  • Dizziness (chemically induced)
  • Donepezil
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Indans (administration & dosage, adverse effects, therapeutic use)
  • Male
  • Memory Disorders (chemically induced, drug therapy)
  • Middle Aged
  • Piperidines (administration & dosage, adverse effects, therapeutic use)
  • Psychotropic Drugs (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
  • Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders (chemically induced)
  • Xerostomia (chemically induced, prevention & control)

Join CureHunter, for free Research Interface BASIC access!

Take advantage of free CureHunter research engine access to explore the best drug and treatment options for any disease. Find out why thousands of doctors, pharma researchers and patient activists around the world use CureHunter every day.
Realize the full power of the drug-disease research graph!


Choose Username:
Email:
Password:
Verify Password:
Enter Code Shown: