home
RSS
Stop selling higher dose Alzheimer's drug, group says
May 18th, 2011
05:05 PM ET

Stop selling higher dose Alzheimer's drug, group says

A specific dose of Alzheimer’s drug should be pulled from the market because it poses a risk to patients, according to a consumer  group.

The drug, donepezil, sold under the brand Aricept, is administered in several doses – the highest being 23 milligrams – for patients with moderate to severe Alzheimer’s disease.

It is prescribed to improve mental function, such as memory, attention and reasoning by increasing a brain chemical. Aricept which is taken daily,  could slow the mental decline, but it does not cure or prevent Alzheimer's. 

The Public Citizen’s Health Research Group called the 23-milligram dose of Aricept “significantly more toxic” than the 10-milligram dose and said it  “should be immediately withdrawn from the market.”

The group says that the drug in higher dose compared with the 10-milligrams could pose increased adverse effects such as slowed pulse rate, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, urinary incontinence, fatigue, dizziness and agitation.  The group also said the higher dose does not appear to give any benefits to the patients.

Three stages of Alzheimer's

Patients often stop taking the higher dose because of its strong side effects such as vomiting. And Alzheimer’s patients are particularly sensitive to vomiting because it can lead to other problems such as pneumonia, massive gastrointestinal bleeding, esophageal rupture and even death, the group said.

In response, Pfizer, which co-promotes Aricept with another company, Eisai, wrote in an emailed statement: "We are reviewing the petition and will respond accordingly; however, it is important to note that the Aricept (donepezil HCl) 23 mg tablet has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of moderate-to-severe Alzheimer’s disease. "

Dr. James Lah, director of the cognitive neurology program at Emory University"s Department of Neurology, regularly prescribes Aricept to patients, but doesn't prescribe the 23-milligram dose.

“Being Americans, the notion is that bigger is better, more is better... it’s simply not true in this particular instance,” Lah said.

He said he was concerned when the FDA approved the 23-milligram version.

“There is very little evidence that it’s superior,” Lah, an Alzheimer's clinician and associate professor said.  “There is a lot of evidence that it’s worse in terms of causing side effects.  If you look at the one study, only one clinical trial reported about the 23 versus 10 milligram Aricept. The results were entirely mixed in terms of effectiveness.”


soundoff (35,740 Responses)
  1. cialis through canadian pharmacies

    buying canadian cialis https://canadacialisstore.com/ canadian pharmacy 5 mg daily cialis

    April 23, 2021 at 00:12 | Report abuse | Reply
  2. JtrBWrBMxi

    girl doing homework best college application essay do my statistics homework little boy calls 911 for help with math homework

    April 23, 2021 at 00:22 | Report abuse | Reply
  3. JpWyIQPGQu

    good hook for community service essay essay on gender pay gap custom writing on fishing rods service for business plan

    April 23, 2021 at 00:28 | Report abuse | Reply
  4. canadian viagra cialis

    canadian pharmacy tadalafil viagara cialis https://canadacialisstore.com/ how safe and reliable are canadian cialis

    April 23, 2021 at 00:29 | Report abuse | Reply
  5. muse injection

    alprostadil injection demonstration video https://alprostadildrugs.com/ erection injection medicine

    April 23, 2021 at 00:45 | Report abuse | Reply
  6. canadian meds cialis

    cialis at canadian pharmacy https://canadacialisstore.com/ canadian pharmacy cialis without prescription

    April 23, 2021 at 01:14 | Report abuse | Reply
  7. zithromax over the counter

    zithromax generics https://zithromaxes.com/ azithromycin zithromax over the counter

    April 23, 2021 at 01:25 | Report abuse | Reply
  8. pocketoption binary options price action strategies

    Nice blog here! Also your site loads up very fast!
    What web host are you using? Can I get your affiliate link to your host?
    I wish my website loaded up as fast as yours lol

    April 23, 2021 at 01:32 | Report abuse | Reply
  9. buy tadalafil us

    buy tadalafil us https://elitadalafill.com/ tadalafil pills 20mg

    April 23, 2021 at 02:14 | Report abuse | Reply
  10. zithromax online purchase

    zithromycin https://zithromaxes.com/ is zithromax a strong antibiotic

    April 23, 2021 at 02:43 | Report abuse | Reply
  11. IZFeweeZNv

    year 7 homework help essay to buy maine inn customer service writing training matrix homework help

    April 23, 2021 at 03:00 | Report abuse | Reply
  12. mdQAoroFIq

    thesis writing service pakistan buy essay help custom writing cards custom wrting

    April 23, 2021 at 03:02 | Report abuse | Reply
  13. parkinson and alprostadil

    alprostadil price in usa https://alprostadildrugs.com/ alprostadil urethral suppository otc

    April 23, 2021 at 03:07 | Report abuse | Reply
  14. nTOGgTVcsH

    do my english homework college essay writing service reviews dissertation service public et droit administratif medical school personal statement service

    April 23, 2021 at 04:07 | Report abuse | Reply
  15. generic for zithromax

    zithromax uses treatments https://zithromaxes.com/ what is zithromax used to treat

    April 23, 2021 at 04:12 | Report abuse | Reply
  16. UDlMuNeBoK

    help me write my research paper three things i enjoy doing essay writer essay descriptive writing help sheet

    April 23, 2021 at 04:24 | Report abuse | Reply
  17. canadian pharmacies ed pills

    canadian pharmacies ed pills https://canadapillstorex.com/ best canadian mail order pharmacies for diet pills

    April 23, 2021 at 04:37 | Report abuse | Reply
  18. is it safe to get viagra from canada

    buy viagra from canada? https://canadaviagrastore.com/ anyone order viagra from canada

    April 23, 2021 at 04:41 | Report abuse | Reply
  19. alprostadil injection where to buy

    where to buy alprostadil cream https://alprostadildrugs.com/ alprostadil gel online

    April 23, 2021 at 04:51 | Report abuse | Reply
  20. tadalafil 30 mg

    tadalafil online https://elitadalafill.com/ tadalafil 40

    April 23, 2021 at 05:17 | Report abuse | Reply
  21. I1 918Kiss 2

    Do you have a spam issue on this site; I also am a blogger, and I was wanting to
    know your situation; many of us have developed some nice procedures and we are looking
    to exchange solutions with other folks, please shoot me an email if interested.

    Here is my web page; I1 918Kiss 2

    April 23, 2021 at 05:22 | Report abuse | Reply
  22. buy sildenafil mexico

    cost of sildenafil 100 mg tablet https://eunicesildenafilcitrate.com/ buy sildenafil uk

    April 23, 2021 at 05:39 | Report abuse | Reply
  23. zithromax

    zithromax otc https://zithromaxes.com/ how can i get zithromax

    April 23, 2021 at 05:42 | Report abuse | Reply
  24. dOrkbSPNeK

    sixth grade science homework help essay about good customer service homework help warners bay essay writing service

    April 23, 2021 at 06:58 | Report abuse | Reply
  25. what is vardenafil used for

    vardenafil sublingual under tongue https://vegavardenafil.com/ vardenafil hcl 20mg tab

    April 23, 2021 at 07:18 | Report abuse | Reply
  26. tadalafil 30 mg

    generic tadalafil united states https://elitadalafill.com/ what is tadalafil

    April 23, 2021 at 07:33 | Report abuse | Reply
  27. sildenafil 80 mg

    sildenafil medication https://eunicesildenafilcitrate.com/ cheapest sildenafil 100mg uk

    April 23, 2021 at 07:36 | Report abuse | Reply
  28. what is vardenafil used for

    how do you take vardenafil 20 mg? https://vegavardenafil.com/ vardenafil dosage maximum

    April 23, 2021 at 07:53 | Report abuse | Reply
  29. best canadian mail order pharmacies for diet pills

    canadian pharmacies ed pills https://canadapillstorex.com/ canadian pharmacies ed pills

    April 23, 2021 at 08:26 | Report abuse | Reply
  30. vardenafil tablets 20 mg

    vardenafil how to take https://vegavardenafil.com/ vardenafil how to take

    April 23, 2021 at 09:06 | Report abuse | Reply
  31. situs judi

    I love what you guys are up too. Such clever work and exposure!

    Keep up the good works guys I've added you guys to my own blogroll.

    April 23, 2021 at 10:17 | Report abuse | Reply
  32. anyone order viagra from canada

    what is the brand name for the generic drug for viagra in canada https://canadaviagrastore.com/ viagra canada by mail

    April 23, 2021 at 10:29 | Report abuse | Reply
  33. video sex

    I pay a visit every day some sites and information sites to read content,
    but this webpage offers quality based writing.

    April 23, 2021 at 10:38 | Report abuse | Reply
  34. order sildenafil citrate

    best price sildenafil uk https://eunicesildenafilcitrate.com/ sildenafil canada buy

    April 23, 2021 at 10:51 | Report abuse | Reply
  35. tadalafil 40 mg from india

    tadalafil max dose https://elitadalafill.com/ tadalafil online

    April 23, 2021 at 11:14 | Report abuse | Reply
  36. tadalis sx

    what is tadalafil https://elitadalafill.com/ tadalafil 40 mg from india

    April 23, 2021 at 11:22 | Report abuse | Reply
  37. staxyn (vardenafil)

    vardenafil vs viagra vs cialis https://vegavardenafil.com/ side effects for vardenafil

    April 23, 2021 at 11:43 | Report abuse | Reply
  38. canadian pills pharmacy

    canadian weight loss pills https://canadapillstorex.com/ canadian diet pills

    April 23, 2021 at 12:03 | Report abuse | Reply
  39. GvdbCrulk

    generic tadalafil 2018 https://boxtadafil.com/ tadalafil citrate research chemical

    April 23, 2021 at 12:12 | Report abuse | Reply
  40. sildenafil 50mg without prescription

    generic sildenafil nz https://eunicesildenafilcitrate.com/ sildenafil mexico pharmacy

    April 23, 2021 at 12:13 | Report abuse | Reply
  41. tadalis sx

    buy tadalafil https://elitadalafill.com/ tadalafil online

    April 23, 2021 at 12:16 | Report abuse | Reply
  42. alprostadil 250mcg urethral supp

    ed medications injectable https://alprostadildrugs.com/ injectable drugs for ed

    April 23, 2021 at 12:35 | Report abuse | Reply
  43. Radja Prasanti

    uang buat thr banyak ada disini coba aja daftar http://52.74.117.220/Default.aspx

    http://52.74.117.220

    April 23, 2021 at 12:38 | Report abuse | Reply
  44. is it safe to get viagra from canada

    canada pharmacies viagra https://canadaviagrastore.com/ cheap viagra from canada

    April 23, 2021 at 12:44 | Report abuse | Reply
  45. tadalafil dosage

    tadalafil 40 https://elitadalafill.com/ tadalafil 60 mg for sale

    April 23, 2021 at 12:53 | Report abuse | Reply
  46. buy generic cialis without prescription canadian pharmacy

    canadian pharmacy 5 mg daily cialis https://canadacialisstore.com/ cialis canadian pharmacy

    April 23, 2021 at 12:56 | Report abuse | Reply
  47. generic tadalafil united states

    tadalafil online https://elitadalafill.com/ tadalafil gel

    April 23, 2021 at 13:11 | Report abuse | Reply
  48. sildenafil 25 mg buy online

    cheap sildenafil tablets 100mg https://eunicesildenafilcitrate.com/ buy sildenafil in mexico

    April 23, 2021 at 13:41 | Report abuse | Reply
  49. generic tadalafil united states

    tadalafil https://elitadalafill.com/ tadalafil pills 20mg

    April 23, 2021 at 14:00 | Report abuse | Reply
  50. buy sildenafil 50mg uk

    sildenafil online purchase in india https://eunicesildenafilcitrate.com/ online sildenafil 100 mg

    April 23, 2021 at 14:05 | Report abuse | Reply
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250 251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 281 282 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290 291 292 293 294 295 296 297 298 299 300 301 302 303 304 305 306 307 308 309 310 311 312 313 314 315 316 317 318 319 320 321 322 323 324 325 326 327 328 329 330 331 332 333 334 335 336 337 338 339 340 341 342 343 344 345 346 347 348 349 350 351 352 353 354 355 356 357 358 359 360 361 362 363 364 365 366 367 368 369 370 371 372 373 374 375 376 377 378 379 380 381 382 383 384 385 386 387 388 389 390 391 392 393 394 395 396 397 398 399 400 401 402 403 404 405 406 407 408 409 410 411 412 413 414 415 416 417 418 419 420 421 422 423 424 425 426 427 428 429 430 431 432 433 434 435 436 437 438 439 440 441 442 443 444 445 446 447 448 449 450 451 452 453 454 455 456 457 458 459 460 461 462 463 464 465 466 467 468 469 470 471 472 473 474 475 476 477 478 479 480 481 482 483 484 485 486 487 488 489 490 491 492 493 494 495 496 497 498 499 500 501 502 503 504 505 506 507 508 509 510 511 512 513 514 515 516 517 518 519 520 521 522 523 524 525 526 527 528 529 530 531 532 533 534 535 536 537 538 539 540 541 542 543 544 545 546 547 548 549 550 551 552 553 554 555 556 557 558 559 560 561 562 563 564 565 566 567 568 569 570 571 572 573 574 575 576 577 578 579 580 581 582 583 584 585 586 587 588 589 590 591 592 593 594 595 596 597 598 599 600 601 602 603 604 605 606 607 608 609 610 611 612 613 614 615 616 617 618 619 620 621 622 623 624 625 626 627 628 629 630 631 632 633 634 635 636 637 638 639 640 641 642 643 644 645 646 647 648 649 650 651 652 653 654 655 656 657 658 659 660 661 662 663 664 665 666 667 668 669 670 671 672 673 674 675 676 677 678 679 680 681 682 683 684 685 686 687 688 689 690 691 692 693 694 695 696 697 698 699 700 701 702 703 704 705 706 707 708 709 710 711 712 713 714 715

Post a comment


 

CNN welcomes a lively and courteous discussion as long as you follow the Rules of Conduct set forth in our Terms of Service. Comments are not pre-screened before they post. You agree that anything you post may be used, along with your name and profile picture, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and the license you have granted pursuant to our Terms of Service.

Advertisement
About this blog

Get a behind-the-scenes look at the latest stories from CNN Chief Medical Correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Senior Medical Correspondent Elizabeth Cohen and the CNN Medical Unit producers. They'll share news and views on health and medical trends - info that will help you take better care of yourself and the people you love.