Mrs. William, a 75-year-old patient is with her daughter

Mrs. William, a 75-year-old patient is with her daughter for a follow-up visit. At her previous office visit, her daughter expressed concerns of her mother's increasing forgetfulness. You send Mrs. William for neuropsychiatric testing. She is diagnosed with mild dementia, and the patient and family would like to discuss treatment options.

Q1. Name a drug for each of the two classes of medication that is currently available for the treatment of dementia, and their adverse effects. (Trade and generic names).

Q2. Mrs. William's daughter is concerned about the behavioral disturbances that can be associated with progressive dementia. Discuss at least two disturbances that are associated with progressive dementia and their treatment recommendations. Please provide one medication, trade and generic name for each of the behavioral disturbances you list.

Mr. Lacy is a 65-year-old man diagnosed with Parkinson's disease (PD) five years ago. His disease has progressed over the years, and it is recommended that he be treated with levodopa.

Q3. What is levodopa, and how is it used in the treatment of Parkinson's disease? What are the adverse effects of levodopa that might be expected in this patient?

Q4. What drug is most commonly combined with levodopa and why? 

Q5. What other drugs can be used for the treatment of PD?

A 50-year-old man has developed depression after the death of his wife. He is prescribed venlafaxine (Effexor XR) 75 mg PO once a day.

Q6. How does venlafaxine differ from tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs)? What adverse effects might this patient expect with venlafaxine?