ALZHEIMERS-DISEASE - HOW TO GIVE AND MONITOR TACRINE THERAPY

Up to one-third of patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease may show improvement in cognitive function with tacrine, a centrally-a cting, noncompetitive inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase. Candidates fo r tacrine must have a diagnosis of probable Alzheimer's dementia based on NINCDS-ADRDA or DSM-IV criteria and should have no history of live r disease. For patients receiving the drug, do follow-up cognitive tes ting with a sensitive measure such as the Alzheimer's Disease Assessme nt Scale. The most common adverse effects associated with tacrine ther apy are elevated liver transaminases and gastrointestinal effects. Wee kly blood tests are necessary to monitor liver function. A reliable ca regiver is essential to ensure compliance with frequent dosing and wee kly blood testing.