Agitation Drug Helpful in Alzheimer’s Disease

Las Vegas, NV—A drug that combines a cough suppressant with an antiarrhythmic might offer some relief for one of the most troubling symptoms of advanced Alzheimer’s disease—agitation. Nuedexta is a combination of dextromethorphan and quinidine that is already approved for the treatment of pseudobulbar agitation (uncontrollable crying or laughing) in degenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Researchers at the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in Las Vegas found that Nuedexta reduced agitation symptoms in nearly half of Alzheimer’s patients studied. Agitation is one of the main reasons that Alzheimer’s patients are moved to specialized care facilities.

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