Donepezil alone vs donepezil combined with Gingko biloba extract in treatment of Alzheimer disease

AIM: To compare the effects of donepezil alone and donepezil combined with Gingko biloba extract in treatment of Alzheimer disease (AD). METHODS: Forty-two patients with AD were divided into two groups. Donepezil alone group of 20 patients (M 17, F 3; age (70±s7) a) received donepezil 5 mg, po, qd for 12 wk; donepezil combined with Gingko biloba extract group of 22 patients (M 13, F 9; age (79±6) a) received donepezil 5 mg, po, qd for 12 wk and Gingko bilba extract 80 mg, po, tid for 12 wk. Effects were evaluated with MMSE and ADL. RESULTS: The total clinical effective rates were 60 % for donepezil alone group and 73 % for donepezil combined with Gingko biloa extract group. There was no significant difference between two groups(P0.05). CONCLUSION: Donepezil is a safe and effective drug in treatment of AD. The effect of donepezil combined with Gingko biloba extract is same to that of donepezil alone in treatment of AD.