Prednisone - Aricept interaction

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BoAnthony42 - 26 Jun 2004 13:12 GMT

Can anyone explain how these two medications may interact with each
other? My father, who takes Aricept, was just prescribed prednisone
for a possibly life threatening condition. It being the weekend, his
physician is not readily available and I can't seem to find this
information on the Internet.

Thanks in advance for any information.

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Evelyn Ruut - 26 Jun 2004 14:21 GMT

> Can anyone explain how these two medications may interact with each
> other? My father, who takes Aricept, was just prescribed prednisone
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>
> Thanks in advance for any information.

You should ask your pharmacist!
We always use the same pharmacy, and the druggists who work there all check
one medication against the others any of us are on. I can always call and
ask, if in doubt.

Signature

Regards,
Evelyn

(to reply to me personally, remove 'sox")

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Mary K Farrell - 26 Jun 2004 17:46 GMT

What's the reason for the Prednisone? Prednisone doesn't have a negative
reaction with Aricept, but it DOES have a negative reaction with
Alzheimer's! My husband has been on Prednisone since February because he
developed thrombocytopenia purpura (ITP) which is a loss of platelets with
big purple spots showing up (his were mainly on his arms and upper torso).
The Prednisone was given to him to help increase the platelets. Now we're
trying to wean him off the Prednisone because is exacerbates the AD. Since
he's been on the Prednisone, he's been more confused and more "Alzheimer-y"
(how's that for a new word??!); hopefully he'll improve a bit after he's off
the Prednisone.
By the way, the hematologist who put him on the Prednisone has changed him
to Dapsone (a pill used for leprosy) which works almost as well as the
Prednisone.
Good luck with your dad.
Mary K

> Can anyone explain how these two medications may interact with each
> other? My father, who takes Aricept, was just prescribed prednisone
> for a possibly life threatening condition. It being the weekend, his
> physician is not readily available and I can't seem to find this
> information on the Internet.
>
> Thanks in advance for any information.

Reply to this Message

BoAnthony42 - 27 Jun 2004 16:04 GMT

> What's the reason for the Prednisone? Prednisone doesn't have a negative
> reaction with Aricept, but it DOES have a negative reaction with
> Alzheimer's! ....

Thanks for the responses. My father was diagnosed with bullous
pemphigoid, a disorder of the auto-immune system that causes
blistering. My father's doctors say that there is an immediate risk of
skin infection if my father does not take prednisone. On the other
hand, taking prednisone leaves a person more susceptible to infections
in general.

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Songbird - 27 Jun 2004 21:21 GMT

> Thanks for the responses. My father was diagnosed with bullous
> pemphigoid, a disorder of the auto-immune system that causes
> blistering. My father's doctors say that there is an immediate risk of
> skin infection if my father does not take prednisone. On the other
> hand, taking prednisone leaves a person more susceptible to infections
> in general.

And sounds like a generally painful and uncomfortable thing, especially if
scratching is discouraged (which I would presume.) My thoughts are with you
both.

Songbird
reaching for the skin lotion in sympathy ...

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Mary K Farrell - 28 Jun 2004 00:33 GMT

Wow. That's quite a problem, isn't it. You're damned if you do, damned if
you don't. There isn't any bad interaction with Aricept, as I said earlier.
But Prednisone can exacerbate the AD. Find out from the doctor just how long
he expects to have your dad on the Prednisone. If it's for just a matter of
months, that's not too bad. If it's a matter of years, I'd be concerned and
find out if there is any other medication that may work. There may be
something that works but isn't as effective that could be used. Do you know
what I mean? Something that will take care of the problem but may take a
little longer and yet won't cause problems with the AD.
Good luck.
Mary K
> "Mary K Farrell" <medfit2@san.rr.com> wrote in message
news:<ZLhDc.522$Fy.280@twister.socal.rr.com>...
> > What's the reason for the Prednisone? Prednisone doesn't have a
negative
> > reaction with Aricept, but it DOES have a negative reaction with
> > Alzheimer's! ....
>
>
> Thanks for the responses. My father was diagnosed with bullous
> pemphigoid, a disorder of the auto-immune system that causes
> blistering. My father's doctors say that there is an immediate risk of
> skin infection if my father does not take prednisone. On the other
> hand, taking prednisone leaves a person more susceptible to infections
> in general.

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Darryl - 28 Jun 2004 03:11 GMT

> Wow. That's quite a problem, isn't it. You're damned if you do, damned if
>you don't. There isn't any bad interaction with Aricept, as I said earlier.
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>what I mean? Something that will take care of the problem but may take a
>little longer and yet won't cause problems with the AD.

Prednisone was studied as a therapy for AD in 2000.

"There was no difference in cognitive decline between the prednisone
and placebo treatment groups; subjects treated with prednisone showed
behavioral decline compared to those in the placebo group."

Acta Neurol Scand Suppl. 2000;176:85-9.

It is important to note that the study looked at LOW-DOSE prednisone.
I don't have access to the article so I don't know what this means;
however, I've emailed the author and I'll post whatever information I
get back.

Darryl.

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Mary K Farrell - 28 Jun 2004 17:07 GMT

According to George's doctors, the Prednisone used at 5 to 10 mg for only
a few months doesn't cause problems with AD. But if they're getting 10 to 20
mg for a long period of time, it causes more confusion. I've seen that with
George. He's been on Prednisone 20 mg twice a day from March 10th to April
25th, then went to 10 mg twice a day. Now he's at 10mg every other day. His
confusion is starting to improve finally, but it's been rough. Plus the
other side effects: edema in the arms, legs, feet, and hands. After he stops
the Prednisone completely (in two more weeks) it will take at least a month
for his body to get back to "normal" and his confusion may not get back to
what it was like before Prednisone. Part of that could be simply the
advancement of the AD, but they tell me that part of it will also be the
results of the Prednisone.
Mary K

> > Wow. That's quite a problem, isn't it. You're damned if you do,
damned if
> >you don't. There isn't any bad interaction with Aricept, as I said
earlier.
> >But Prednisone can exacerbate the AD. Find out from the doctor just how
long
> >he expects to have your dad on the Prednisone. If it's for just a
matter of
> >months, that's not too bad. If it's a matter of years, I'd be concerned
and
> >find out if there is any other medication that may work. There may be
> >something that works but isn't as effective that could be used. Do you
know
> >what I mean? Something that will take care of the problem but may take
a
> >little longer and yet won't cause problems with the AD.
>
> Prednisone was studied as a therapy for AD in 2000.
>
> "There was no difference in cognitive decline between the prednisone
> and placebo treatment groups; subjects treated with prednisone showed
> behavioral decline compared to those in the placebo group."
>
> Acta Neurol Scand Suppl. 2000;176:85-9.
>
> It is important to note that the study looked at LOW-DOSE prednisone.
> I don't have access to the article so I don't know what this means;
> however, I've emailed the author and I'll post whatever information I
> get back.
>
> Darryl.

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BoAnthony42 - 28 Jun 2004 20:29 GMT

Thanks again for the information.

The local pharmacist told me that predisone interferes with the
absorption of aricept into the bloodstream and, hence, taking the two
at the same time should be avoided.

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Dennis P. Harris - 29 Jun 2004 09:07 GMT

> Can anyone explain how these two medications may interact with each
> other? My father, who takes Aricept, was just prescribed prednisone
> for a possibly life threatening condition. It being the weekend, his
> physician is not readily available and I can't seem to find this
> information on the Internet.

call the pharmacy which filled the prescription and ask the
pharmacist.

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