Aricept
® (
donepezil hydrochloride) is a prescription medication that is used to treat the symptoms of mild, moderate, or severe
Alzheimer's disease. It is not a cure for
Alzheimer's, but it can help improve memory, attention, reason, language, and the ability to perform simple tasks.
(Click Aricept Uses for more information on specific uses for Aricept.)
Aricept is manufactured by Eisai Inc. and marketed by Pfizer.
Aricept is part of a class of drugs known as acetylcholinesterase inhibitors. It works by stopping a specific enzyme (known as acetylcholinesterase) from breaking down acetylcholine in the brain. Acetylcholine is a chemical that aids in many brain functions, including memory, attention, reason, and language.
Patients with Alzheimer's generally have a decline in memory and learning that is related to the loss of acetylcholine in the brain. Since Aricept can prevent the breakdown of this chemical, more of it remains in the brain for a longer time. This helps to slow the decline in memory and learning, and allows a person with
Alzheimer's symptoms to perform simple daily tasks. However, Aricept is not a cure for Alzheimer's and cannot slow the progression of the disease.
Aricept: When and How Do I Take It?
Some general considerations for when and how to take Aricept include:
- Aricept comes in the form of an oral tablet, an orally disintegrating tablet, or as an oral solution. Make sure you follow the directions for the specific form of Aricept that you were prescribed.
- Aricept should be taken once a day at bedtime, with or without food.
- If you are taking the tablet form of Aricept, it is recommended that you take it with a drink of water or other fluid.
- If you are taking the orally disintegrating tablet form of Aricept, you should place the tablet on your tongue, allow it to dissolve, and then swallow. It is recommended that you drink a glass of water after the tablet has dissolved.
- If you are taking the oral solution form of Aricept, you should use a specially marked spoon or syringe to measure your dose, since the average household teaspoon is not accurate enough.
- Aricept should be taken at the same time every day to help maintain an even level of medicine in the blood. Do not take it more often than directed.
- For Aricept to work properly, it must be taken as prescribed. Aricept will not work if you stop taking it.
The dose of Aricept that your healthcare provider recommends will vary depending on a number of factors, including:
- How you respond to Aricept
- Other medical conditions you may have
- Other medications you may be currently taking.
As is always the case, do not adjust your dose unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so.
(Click Aricept Dosage for more information about the proper dosing for Aricept.)
(The side effects listed below are NOT a complete list of possible side effects of Aricept. Your healthcare provider can discuss a more complete list of Aricept side effects with you.)
As with any medicine, there are possible side effects with Aricept. However, not everyone who takes medicine will experience side effects. In fact, most people tolerate Aricept well. When side effects do occur, in most cases they are minor, meaning they require no treatment or are easily treated by you or your healthcare provider. If side effects do occur, most people do not need to stop their medicine.
The most common Aricept side effects include:
(Click Aricept Side Effects to learn about the specific side effects of Aricept, including possible serious side effects to look out for.)
Drug Interactions With Aricept
There are a number of medications that may potentially interact with Aricept.
Aricept: What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider?
Prior to taking Aricept, you should tell your healthcare provider if you have:
- Asthma or other lung disease
- Difficulty passing urine
- Heart disease
- Liver disease
- Low blood pressure
- Seizures or epilepsy
- Stomach or intestinal disease, ulcers, or bleeding
- An allergy to Aricept or other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives.
It is also important to let your healthcare provider know if you are:
Tell your healthcare provider about all other medicines you may currently be taking, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
For most people, Aricept is quite effective in treating the
symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. It is also generally well tolerated.
Aricept side effects can occur, however, and people may wish to consider a substitute for Aricept. These substitutes could include other acetylcholinesterase inhibitors or other medications used in the treatment of
Alzheimer's.
People who take too much Aricept may experience the following symptoms:
- Severe nausea and vomiting
- Sweating
- Salivation (increased watering of the mouth)
- Slowed heart beat (bradycardia)
- Low blood pressure (hypotension)
- Troubled breathing
- Respiratory depression or collapse
- Convulsions (seizures).
If you happen to overdose on Aricept, seek medical attention immediately.
(Click Aricept Overdose for more information.)
Aricept should be stored at room temperature in a tightly closed container. It should be protected from light and moisture. Do not store in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places.
Throw away any unused medication after the expiration date. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist how you should dispose of Aricept.
Keep Aricept and all medications out of the reach of children.
Aricept: What Should I Do If I Miss a Dose?
If you forget to take a dose of Aricept, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your normal dosing schedule. Never double your dose of Aricept at one time.
Aricept is available as tablets and orally disintegrating tablets in two strengths:
- Aricept 5 mg
- Aricept 10 mg.
Aricept is also available as a strawberry-flavored oral solution -- Aricept Oral Solution 1 mg/mL, which contains 1 mg of Aricept per mL (equivalent to 5 mg of Aricept per teaspoonful).
There are no generic versions of Aricept currently available
(see Generic Aricept).
