ACETYLCHOLINESTERASE INHIBITORS IN COMBINATION WITH MUSCARINIC AGONISTS FOR THE TREATMENT OF ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE

摘要

New compositions of matter and a method for treating bodily disorders involving cholinergic hypofunction such as Alzheimer's disease in a mammal are disclosed. The compositions comprise a combination of an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor and a muscarinic agonist. The method comprises administration of the combination to a mammal. The instant invention demonstrates that the combination of an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor and a muscarinic agonist can be safely administered, that doses of each agent which by themselves showed no activity yielded positive responses and minimal side effects in combination, and that the active dose range for both agents could be widened when used in combination. These results imply that the combined treatment may eliminate the need to individually tritrate doses and also increase the separation between efficacy and adverse events.