Switching Cholinesterase Inhibitors: When and How

Chris MacKnight, MD, MSc, FRCPC, Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS.

Three cholinesterase inhibitors are available in Canada for the treatment of mild and moderate Alzheimer’s disease. As the three agents differ in their pharmacology, switching among them does sometimes make sense. Switching may be necessary because of intolerance, lack of response, and occasionally loss of response. This article will describe how and when to switch cholinesterase inhibitor.
Key words: Alzheimer’s disease, treatment response, cholinesterase inhibitors, switching, dementia.