 Aricept can slow down the symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease and people who start early treatment have been shown to keep their cognitive skills longer. In a 30 week study patients using Aricept showed vastly improved cognitive performance compared to the placebo group. Aricept is utilized in the treatment of mild to moderate dementia of Alzheimer’s Disease. Alzheimer’s Disease influences the daily lives of approximately 1 in 10 people (of all races) over the age of 65 and 50% of the population over 85. Through research we are learning more about how the brain is affected by Alzheimer’s Disease and it is presently unknown how to prevent or cure it. Treatment of it’s symptoms is all that can be done at present and it is generally understood that the earlier the diagnosis and treatment begins, the more beneficial results are found. Aricept belongs to a class of drugs called cholinesterase inhibitors. Aricept inhibits acetylcholinesterase, an enzyme responsible for the destruction of the neurotransmitter, acetylcholine. Therefore, increased concentrations of acetylcholine is believed to be responsible for the improvements seen when treating with Aricept. In controlled clinical trials effective dosages of Aricept were 5 or 10mg once per day in the evening prior to retiring, with or without food. Drugs with anti-cholinergic properties should be avoided during therapy with Aricept. Aricept is eliminated by enzymes in the liver. Some medications increase the amounts of these enzymes such as Tegretol, Decadron, Phenytoin and Rifadin. Therefore, these drugs may reduce the effects of Aricept. Also concurrent use of Ketoconazole (Nizoral) may result in Aricept side effects. Non-conclusive US research has suggested that a combination of Aricept and Ebixa / Memantine is more effective than Aricept alone. Aricept and Reminyl are used in people with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s Disease whereas Ebixa / Memantine can temporarily slow down the symptoms in people in the middle to later stages of the disease. Ebixa / Memantine may even slow the disease process itself. | 
