Cognex

Brand name:

Cognex.

Tacrine is an anti- Alzheimer’s drug under the cholinergic group, used to treat or manage the symptoms of mild to moderate dementia in Alzheimer’s disease. This medication prevents the breakdown of the natural brain chemical, acetylcholine, to slow down or inhibit further deterioration of memory, thinking and reasoning in individuals with Alzheimer’s disease.

Instructions:

Read your medication guide and follow your doctor’s prescription at all times.

• Take tacrine orally/by mouth on an empty stomach per doctor’s prescription. However, take it with food if you experienced stomach upset.
• The dosage depends on your medical condition or treatment response. Do not adjust your dose without your doctor’s recommendation.
• Do not engage to activities that require mental alertness because this medication can impair your mental status or your reactions.
• Continue taking this medication on regular schedule (same time of the day). Do not stop taking this medication abruptly without consulting your doctor.

Inform your doctor immediately if your condition aggravates or does not improve.

Take your missed dose as soon as possible. However, make sure that the time interval between the missed and the next dose is not too close. Otherwise, stick with the regular schedule and leave out the missed dose. Do not double dose to cover up a missed dose. Record your missed dose and inform your doctor immediately if you missed several doses.

Interactions:

Tacrine may interact with:

• Atropine
• Cimetidine
• Dicyclomine
• Fluvoxamine
• Hyoscyamine
• Mepenzolate
• Methscopolamine
• Propantheline
• Scopolamine and
• Theophylline

Some drugs may either lessen the beneficial effects or worsen the side effects of tacrine. Likewise, tacrine may make some drugs less efficient or intensify their side effects.

Make sure to inform your doctor about all other drugs you are currently taking or using (prescribed and non-prescribed medications including vitamins, minerals and herbal products) to check for possible drug interaction with tacrine.

Never alter the doses of other medications while on tacrine neither stop nor start any medicine without the doctor’s recommendation.

Side Effects:

There are no side effects known aside from a possible allergic reaction in people who have previous or unknown hypersensitivity to the drug.

Watch out for signs of allergic reactions such as:

• Rash
• Itching
• Swelling

Warnings:

Before taking tacrine, tell your health care provider if you have/are:

• Any allergies to any substance, food or medication, particularly to tacrine (Cognex)
• Medical history or a present condition such as:
  • Liver disease
  • Heart disorder (i.e. sick sinus syndrome/ slow heartbeat)
  • Stomach ulcers
  • Prostate enlargement or trouble in urination
  • Epilepsy or Seizure problem
  • Asthma or other breathing problems (i.e. chronic obstructive pulmonary disease/ COPD)

• Pregnant, planning to get pregnant or currently breastfeeding a child (Tacrine can harm the unborn baby but it is unknown if it can pass through breast milk that may harm the nursing child. The risks and benefits of taking this medication during pregnancy must be discussed well with your doctor.)