Aricept

Common use

Aricept (Donepezil) is a medication that treats symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease like memory loss and confusion. This medication works by improving your attention, memory and ability to engage in your daily activities.

Dosage and direction

Take this medication by mouth with a glass of water. Follow the directions on the prescription label. You may take this medication with or without food. Take this medication at regular intervals. This medication is usually taken before bedtime. Do not take it more often than directed. Continue to take your medication even if you feel better. Do not stop taking except on your care team's advice.
If you are taking the 23 mg donepezil tablet, swallow it whole; do not cut, crush, or chew it.

Precautions
Notify your doctor if you have any of these conditions:
Asthma or other lung disease,
Difficulty passing urine,
Head injury,
Heart disease,
History of irregular heartbeat,
Liver disease,
Seizures (convulsions),
Stomach or intestinal disease, ulcers or stomach bleeding,
An unusual or allergic reaction to donepezil, other medications, foods, dyes, or preservatives,
Pregnant or trying to get pregnant,
Breast-feeding.

Contraindications

Aricept cannot be used in the patients with hypersensitivity to donepezil and to derivatives of piperidine.

Possible side effect

Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:
Allergic reactions - skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat,
Peptic ulcer - burning stomach pain, loss of appetite, bloating, burping, heartburn, nausea, vomiting,
Seizures,
Slow heartbeat - dizziness, feeling faint or lightheaded, confusion, trouble breathing, unusual weakness or fatigue,
Stomach bleeding - bloody or black, tar-like stools, vomiting blood or brown material that looks like coffee grounds,
Trouble passing urine.

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report these to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):
Diarrhea,
Fatigue,
Loss of appetite,
Muscle pain or cramps,
Nausea,
Trouble sleeping.

Drug interaction

Do not take this medication with any of the following:
Certain medications for fungal infections like itraconazole, fluconazole, posaconazole, and voriconazole,
Cisapride,
Dextromethorphan; quinidine,
Dronedarone,
Pimozide,
Quinidine,
Thioridazine.

This medication may also interact with the following:
Antihistamines for allergy, cough and cold,
Atropine,
Bethanechol,
Carbamazepine,
Certain medications for bladder problems like oxybutynin, tolterodine,
Certain medications for Parkinson's disease like benztropine, trihexyphenidyl,
Certain medications for stomach problems like dicyclomine, hyoscyamine,
Certain medications for travel sickness like scopolamine,
Dexamethasone,
Dofetilide,
Ipratropium,
NSAIDs, medications for pain and inflammation, like ibuprofen or naproxen,
Other medications for Alzheimer's disease,
Other medications that prolong the QT interval (cause an abnormal heart rhythm),
Phenobarbital,
Phenytoin,
Rifampin, rifabutin or rifapentine,
Ziprasidone.

Missed dose

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, take only that dose, do not take double or extra doses.

Overdose

Contact your doctor or seek immediate medical help if you experience these symptoms: severe nausea, vomiting, drooling, intensive sweating, feeling light-headed, slow heartbeat, sweating, blurred vision, fainting, or seizure (convulsions), myasthenia gravis, shallow breathing, muscle weakness.

Storage

Keep out of reach of children.
Store at room temperature between 15 and 30 degrees C (59 and 86 degrees F). Throw away any unused medication after the expiration date.