In the paper today there is an article that the Province of B.C. has approved funding for patients of Alzheimer's to receive Cholinesterase Inhibitors (three different types), dubbed the "quality of life" pill because it helps patients become more stable and cope better to retain their independence longer and to reduce the impact on their care givers. I believe it has been around for awhile but just was not covered by the drug programs in the Province of B.C. until now. It is meant for people in the mild to mid cognizant impairment range. The article said that those who have been able to afford this drug are doing much better and it is these results that has convinced our government to cover the drugs.

I have not heard of this before and wondered what any of you know about it? I'm hoping it is something to help many of us here on these boards.

Any comments would be appreciated. Thank you. Shirley:)

HI Shirley, good thread! The website I use for a great deal of my research for my studies also states on this subject that:

"...Despite the slight variations in the mode of action of the 3 cholinesterase inhibitors, there is no evidence of any differences between them with respect to efficacy," presenter Jacqueline Birks, MA, MSc, CStat, from the Cochrane Dementia and Cognitive Improvement Group, University of Oxford, England, told Medscape..."

And at the moment, there are no published long-term trials directly comparing all 3 Cholinesterase Inhibitors which are cholinergic drugs — donepezil, galantamine, and rivastigmine.

Further evidence and studies goes on to state that these same drugs are being trialled for MCI (Myocardial Infarct) patients and appears to be successful.

So, it looks like yes, there is a LITTLE improvement.

"...Patients suffered more adverse effects, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea on the drugs, than on the placebo, but these side effects are not so bad that they outweigh the benefits," Ms. Birks said. "From the evidence provided by one trial there appear to be fewer adverse events associated with donepezil compared with rivastigmine..."

And the article goes on to state that there has been a noted improvement in Severe Dementia.

Glad to see there is hope for the future. Maybe by the time we get old, Dementia will be curable ...

Martha