Adverse effects of cognitive enhancers: Percent of patients affected
| Cholinesterase inhibitors | NMDA receptor antagonist | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Donepezil | Galantamine | Rivastigmine | Rivastigmine transdermal | Memantine | |
| Nausea | 3%–19%a | 21% | 17%–47% | 2%–4% | Not available |
| Diarrhea | 5%–15%a | 7% | 5%–19% | ≤ 7% | 5% |
| Constipation | 3%–5% | ||||
| Anorexia | 2%–8% | 7% (decreased appetite) | ≥ 17% 3%–26% (weight loss) | ≤ 3% | < 1% 3% (weight gain) (extended-release formulation) |
| Vomiting | 3%–9%a | 11% | 13%–31% | 3%–9% | 2%–3% |
| Insomnia | 2%–14% | Not available | 1%–9% | Not available | Not available |
| Headache | 3%–10% | 7% | 4%–17% | ≤ 4% | 6% |
| Dizziness | 2%–8% | 8% | 6%–21% | ≤ 6% | 5%–7% |
| Fatigue | 1%–8% | 4% | 4%–9% | 2%–4% | 2% |
| Syncope | 2% | 1% | 3% (falling) 6%–12% | Not available | Not available |
| Bradycardia | ≥ 1% | 1% | < 1% | < 1% | < 1% |
| Infection | 11% | < 1% | 1%–10% (urinary tract infections) | Not available | 4% (influenza) |
↵a Dose-related.
NMDA = N-methyl-d-aspartate