Medications for dementia

• Cholinesterase inhibitors (donepezil, rivastigmine, tacrine or galantamine), frequently used in mild/moderate AD - may cause nausea, diarrhea
• Choose antipsychotics/antidepressants without anti-cholinergic side effects (dry mouth, delayed gastric emptying, constipation)
• Antidepressants may enhance appetite in depressed patients but SSRIs may cause a decrease in appetite