Dosing

How does my loved one take the medication the doctor prescribed?

It depends on the medication that was prescribed.  Namenda, Razadyne and Exelon are to be taken twice a day.  Razadyne ER (Extended Release) and Aricept is taken once a day.

The doctor will first prescribe a starting dose of the medication.  This dose is usually the lowest strength tablet or capsule available for the medication prescribed to allow your loved one to see if they can tolerate it. 

After a few weeks, your doctor will start increasing the dose to the next highest strength until your loved one is on the proper dose of the medication necessary to get its full benefit for the treatment of their Alzheimer’s disease.  This dosage strength is usually called the maintenance dose.

Starting the medication slowly and in smaller doses allows their body to get used to it more naturally, decreasing the chance for side effects. 

While the starting dose does not provide the full benefit of the medication, studies have shown that titrating it, or increasing it in regular intervals, is done in a way that best suits your loved one. 

Ensuring that you loved reaches the maintenance dose and takes it continuously as directed by the doctor will best help your loved one get the maximum benefit from the medication.