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Donepezil, memantine in Alzheimer's disease: The DOMINO effect

March 21, 2012
  • Advising on this article:
  • M. Lynn Crismon

KEY POINT

In a 12-month study, continuing donepezil (Aricept–Eisai; Pfizer) as patients progressed from mild-to-moderate to moderate-to-severe Alzheimer’s disease led to significant improvements in cognition and function. Adding memantine (Namenda–Forest) to donepezil did not provide a clinically significant benefit over donepezil alone.

SOURCES

Howard R et al. Donepezil and memantine for moderate-to-severe Alzheimer’s disease. N Engl J Med. 2012;366:893–903. 

Schneider LS. Discontinuing donepezil or starting memantine for Alzheimer’s disease [editorial]. N Engl J Med. 2012;366:957–9. 

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