Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors

Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors - A group of drugs that are used in the treatment of mild to moderate dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease, in which there is a deficiency of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine in the brain.

Drugs such as donepezil and rivastigmine work by blocking the action of acetylcholinesterase, the enzyme in the brain responsible for the breakdown of acetylcholine. This raises acetylcholine levels, and, in half of all patients, the drugs slow the rate of progression of dementia.

They have no effect on dementia due to other causes, such as stroke or head injury, however. Common side effects include nausea, dizziness, and headache. Rarely, difficulty in passing urine may occur.