AAC Pharmacological Interventions 2

Question 1

Which cholinesterase inhibitor is approved for all stages of Alzheimer's disease, including severe?

Accepted Answer

Donepezil

Answer

Donepezil (Aricept) is the only cholinesterase inhibitor FDA-approved for mild, moderate, and severe Alzheimer's disease.

Question 2

A patient taking donepezil reports vivid nightmares. The best initial recommendation is to:

Accepted Answer

Administer the dose in the morning instead of at night

Answer

Switching donepezil from an evening to a morning dose often resolves vivid dreams, a known side effect, without stopping therapy.

Question 3

Memantine's mechanism of action is best described as:

Accepted Answer

Blocking NMDA glutamate receptors to reduce excitotoxicity

Answer

Memantine is an NMDA receptor antagonist that reduces glutamate-mediated excitotoxicity, which contributes to neuronal damage in Alzheimer's.

Question 4

Which combination therapy is FDA-approved as a single capsule for moderate-to-severe Alzheimer's disease?

Accepted Answer

Donepezil + memantine

Answer

Namzaric is the FDA-approved fixed-dose combination of donepezil and memantine for moderate-to-severe Alzheimer's disease.

Question 5

Galantamine's dual mechanism of action includes acetylcholinesterase inhibition and:

Accepted Answer

Nicotinic receptor allosteric modulation

Answer

Galantamine uniquely allosterically modulates nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in addition to inhibiting acetylcholinesterase.

(AAC) Alzheimer's Association Certification Practice Test