Cholinesterase inhibitors for delirium

Cholinesterase inhibitors for delirium: what is the evidence?

The current therapeutic agents advocated for the treatment of delirium (Meagher, 2001) have not been developed from an understanding of the underlying pathophysiology of this condition. Rather, they have emerged from “off label” clinical practice which has sought to reduce the distress experienced by both patients and clinicians. Accordingly, their use has not developed from a strong, specific ...

Cholinesterase inhibitors for delirium: what is the evidence?

The current therapeutic agents advocated for the treatment of delirium (Meagher, 2001) have not been developed from an understanding of the underlying pathophysiology of this condition. Rather, they have emerged from “off label” clinical practice which has sought to reduce the distress experienced by both patients and clinicians. Accordingly, their use has not developed from a strong, specific ...

Cholinesterase inhibitors and memory.

A consensus exists that cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs) are efficacious for mild to moderate Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Unfortunately, the number of non-responders is large and the therapeutic effect is usually short-lasting. In experimental animals, ChEIs exert three main actions: inhibit cholinesterase (ChE), increase extracellular levels of brain acetylcholine (ACh), improve cognitive proce...

Cholinesterase Inhibitors: Drugs Looking for a Disease?

0456 R andomized controlled trials (RCTs) are generally considered to be a robust form of evidence, free from bias, and the trial results are often used as a powerful tool to promote new drugs [1,2]. However, because the inclusion criteria for many RCTs are often very restrictive (for example, trials generally exclude patients with serious concomitant illnesses) and because patients in trials t...

Two selective inhibitors of cholinesterase.