Applying pharmacology to practice: The case of dementia

The role of a nurse has greatly expanded over the past number of years. One area of clinical expertise being sought by patients in particular is that of medications. Medicines used to treat dementia are particularly important as nurses are often the main point of contact for a patient following diagnosis. A good working knowledge of the treatments available to dementia and how they impact on the body can certainly bolster a nurse's confidence when delivering information to the patient. They can also benefit society at a macro-level, as many patients in nursing care receive treatments that are inappropriate and some pharmacological expertise can enable a nurse to recognise when re-assessment is needed. This article will provide nurses with information about pharmacodynamics (what the drug does to the body) and pharmacokinetics (what the body does to the drug) specific to cholinesterase inhibitors and antiglutamatergic therapy—the two approved classes of medications used for treatment of Alzheimer's disease.