A NEW wonder drug to treat Alzheimer's Disease has been put on hold by health chiefs who fear it might raise unrealistic hopes.

Donepezil is the first-ever pill to be licensed in the UK to treat the devastating effects of the condition.

Campaigners believe the drug, which would cost £1,200 a year to prescribe for a single patient, will enhance the quality of life for hundreds with mild to moderate forms of Alzheimer's, though it is not a cure.

But East Lancashire Health Authority is concerned about its potential side-effects and question its long-term benefits.

The authority is worried that expectations should not be raised among sufferers until more research has taken place. East Lancashire public health director Dr Stephen Morton said: "There is very limited evidence of the potential role of this drug in treating Alzheimer's.

"The average benefits are slight and may vary between individuals. Existing research does not show whether any benefit lasts longer than six months and exactly which patients would benefit the most.

"The research does not show which patients need to be treated."

The health authority has agreed to invest in further research, locally and nationally. .

Dr Morton added: "Such a study would help to answer some questions and ensure local clinicians gained experience in using the treatment and assessing outcomes."

About 1,500 patients in East Lancashire suffer from mild to moderate Alzheimer's. Donepezil, also known as Aricept, is already widely used in the USA. The pill is taken once a day although side effects include diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting. The drug may not be as effective for people in the advanced stages of the disease because the number of nerve cells functioning in the brain declines as the condition progresses.

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