BMJ  2004;329:9 (3 July), doi:10.1136/bmj.329.7456.9-a

News

Drug for Alzheimer's disease is of little benefit, study shows

London

Donepezil (Aricept), a cholinesterase inhibitor approved by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, neither slows the onset of the disease nor delays the need for patients to be taken into care, a study published in the Lancet has found (2004;363; 2105-15)[CrossRef][ISI][Medline].

The five year, double blind, randomised controlled trial conducted by the University of Birmingham and funded by the NHS concluded that routine prescribing of the drug is a waste of scarce resources.

Currently 39 000 people in the United Kingdom are taking the drug, which costs about £1000 ($1825; 1500) per person per year.

The study, called AD2000, recruited 565 patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease who were living in the community. The patients were randomly assigned to either donepezil or a placebo.

It found only a marginal improvement in the mental state and . . . [Full text of this article]

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Rapid Responses:

Read all Rapid Responses

Donepezil and Alzheimer’s disease: seeking simplistic therapies for a complex disorder

Vinod K Gupta
bmj.com, 2 Jul 2004 [Full text]

Alzheimer' disease and Donepezil:nothing but unnecessary financial burdens!

Dr.Naseem A. Qureshi MD, IMAPA, LMIPS
bmj.com, 3 Jul 2004 [Full text]

Are they worth the money?

Gareth H. Jones
bmj.com, 21 Jul 2004 [Full text]

Donepezil patients should have exercise and nutrition

Harry I Wood
bmj.com, 7 Nov 2004 [Full text]