British Columbia Drug and Poison Information Centre (BC DPIC)

CLASSIFICATION
Donepezil: Acetylcholinesterase inhibitor; cholinergic 
Galantamine: Acetylcholinesterase inhibitor; cholinergic
Memantine: NMDA receptor antagonist
Rivastigmine: Acetylcholinesterase inhibitor; cholinergic 
 
ACTION 
Donepezil, galantamine, rivastigmine:
- Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors increase the level of acetylcholine in neuronal synaptic clefts in the brain.
- Galantamine also increases the effect of acetylcholine at nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in vitro; clinical
relevance unproven.
- Rivastigmine also inhibits butyrylcholinesterase; clinical relevance unknown.
 
Memantine: Blocks one of the glutamate receptor types, the NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) receptor, reducing
neuronal damage caused by excessive glutamate.