tacrine

• Tacrine is an oral medication used to treat patients with Alzheimer's disease.
• Tacrine is in a class of drugs called cholinesterase inhibitors that also includes rivastigmine (Exelon), donepezil (Aricept), and galantamine (Razadyne - formerly Reminyl). Cholinesterase inhibitors inhibit (block) the action of acetylcholinesterase, the enzyme responsible for the destruction of acetylcholine.
• Acetylcholine is one of several neurotransmitters in the brain, chemicals that nerve cells use to communicate with one another. Reduced levels of acetylcholine in the brain are believed to be responsible for some of the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. By blocking the enzyme that destroys acetylcholine, rivastigmine increases the concentration of acetylcholine in the brain, and this increase is believed to be responsible for the improvement in thinking seen with tacrine.
• Tacrine was approved by the FDA in 1993.

GENERIC AVAILABLE: No

Yes

Tacrine is used for the treatment of mild to moderate dementia of the Alzheimer's type.

The most common side effect of tacrine is an increase in a liver test called alanine aminotransferase (ALT) as a result of liver damage. When a patient starts taking tacrine, blood is drawn on a weekly basis to measure ALT. If there is an increase in blood ALT, the dosage of tacrine can be reduced. Other side effects of tacrine include:

• nausea,
• indigestion,
• vomiting,
• diarrhea,
• abdominal pain, and
• skin rash.

• The recommended dose is 10 to 20 mg four times daily.
• The maximum dose is 160 mg daily.
• Tacrine is usually taken on an empty stomach (one hour before, or two hours after meals) unless it causes stomach upset.

Drugs with anticholinergic properties and which cross into the brain, such as atropine, benztropine (Cogentin), and trihexyphenidyl (Artane) produce opposite effects of tacrine and should be avoided during therapy with tacrine. Unlike donezepril (Aricept), tacrine does not reduce the elimination of other drugs, increasing their levels in blood and the likelihood of their side effects.

Animal reproduction studies have not been done with tacrine. It is not known if tacrine causes fetal harm when taken by a pregnant woman. Tacrine may pass into breast milk and be harmful to the nursing infant; it should not be used while nursing.

What preparations of tacrine are available?

Capsules: 10, 20, 30, and 40 mg.

How should I keep tacrine stored?

Capsules should be stored at room temperature, 15-30 C (59-86 F).