ARICEPT® (donepezil HCl)

It's important to remember that while ARICEPT Femalegra treats the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, it is not a cure. All patients will get worse over time, even if they take ARICEPT 23 mg.

INDICATION

ARICEPT^® (donepezil HCl) is a prescription medicine to treat mild, moderate, and severe Alzheimer's disease.

DOSING INFORMATION

Before starting on ARICEPT 23 mg/day, patients should be on ARICEPT 10 mg/day for at least 3 months. The starting dose of ARICEPT is 5 mg/day and can be increased to 10 mg/day after 4–6 weeks. Please take ARICEPT as prescribed by the doctor.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

• ARICEPT is not for everyone, including people who are allergic to any ingredients in ARICEPT or to medicines that contain piperidines.
• Tell the doctor if your loved one takes nonprescription or prescription medicines, including those used to treat Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease; anticholinergic medicines, such as allergy or cold medicine; medicines to treat bladder or bowel spasms; or certain asthma medicines.
• ARICEPT may cause slow heartbeat and fainting. This happens more often in people with heart problems. Call the doctor right away if the patient faints while taking ARICEPT. People may also have seizures while taking ARICEPT. They may also have difficulty passing urine. Lung problems, including asthma, may worsen with the use of ARICEPT. Tell the doctor that the patient takes ARICEPT before they have any procedure that may require anesthesia, including dental and medical procedures or surgery.
• People at risk for stomach ulcers or who take certain other medicines, such as aspirin or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), should tell their doctor because serious stomach problems, such as bleeding, may get worse.
• In a study, more side effects were seen with ARICEPT 23 mg than with ARICEPT 10 mg. Many more people taking ARICEPT 23 mg experienced nausea and vomiting than those taking ARICEPT 10 mg. These side effects may get better after the patient takes ARICEPT for a while. Other side effects that were seen more often with ARICEPT 23 mg were stomach ulcers, gastrointestinal bleeding, and weight loss. People of lower weight (less than 121 lbs) may have increased nausea, vomiting, and weight loss when taking ARICEPT 23 mg.
• Other side effects of ARICEPT may include diarrhea, difficulty sleeping, vomiting, or muscle cramps. Some people may feel tired or may have loss of appetite.

The ARICEPT Patient Assistance Program can help qualified indigent and uninsured patients obtain ARICEPT at no cost. To learn more and receive an application for assistance, please contact us Monday–Friday from 9 AM to 6 PM ET

This site is intended for residents of the United States only. The products discussed herein may have different product labeling in different countries.

donepezil, Aricept, Aricept ODT

GENERIC NAME: donepezil

BRAND NAME: Aricept, Aricept ODT

DRUG CLASS AND MECHANISM: Donepezil is an oral medication used to treat Alzheimer's disease. It belongs to a class of drugs called cholinesterase inhibitors that also includes tacrine (Cognex). Scientists believe that Alzheimer's disease may result from a deficiency in chemicals (neurotransmitters) used by nerves in the brain to communicate with one another. Donepezil inhibits acetylcholinesterase, an enzyme responsible for the destruction of one neurotransmitter, acetylcholine. This leads to increased concentrations of acetylcholine in the brain, and the increased concentrations are believed to be responsible for the improvement seen during treatment with donepezil. Donepezil improves the symptoms but does not slow down the progression of Alzheimer's disease. Donepezil was approved by Cialis Daily the FDA in 1996.

PRESCRIPTION: yes

GENERIC AVAILABLE: no

PREPARATIONS: Aricept is available in 5 and 10 mg tablets. Aricept ODT (orally disintegrating tablets) also are available in 5 and 10 mg tablets.

STORAGE: Tablets should be stored at room temperature, 15-30°C (59-86°F).

PRESCRIBED FOR: Donepezil is used for the treatment of mild to moderatedementia of the Alzheimer's type.

DOSING: Donepezil is generally taken once daily at night prior to retiring. Its absorption is not affected by food so that it may be taken with or without food.

DRUG INTERACTIONS: Drugs with anti-cholinergic properties that can cross into the brain, such as atropine, benztropine (Cogentin), and trihexyphenidyl (Artane) counteract the effects of donepezil and should be avoided during therapy with donepezil.

Donepezil is metabolized (eliminated) by enzymes in the liver. The rate of metabolism of donepezil may be increased by medications that increase the amounts of these enzymes, such as carbamazepine (Tegretol), dexamethasone (Decadron), phenobarbital, phenytoin (Dilantin), and rifampin (Rifadin). By increasing elimination, these drugs may reduce the effects of donepezil.

Ketoconazole (Nizoral) has been shown to block the enzymes in the liver that metabolize donepezil. Therefore, concurrent use of ketoconazole and donepezil may result in increased concentrations of donepezil in the body and possibly lead to donepezil side effects. Quinidine (Quinidex, Quinaglute) also has been shown to inhibit the enzymes that metabolize donepezil and may cause donepezil side effects.

PREGNANCY: It is not known whether donepezil is harmful to the fetus. Safe use during pregnancy has not been established.

NURSING MOTHERS: It is not known whether the donepezil is secreted intobreast milk or if breast-feeding while taking donepezil is safe for the nursing infant.

SIDE EFFECTS: The most frequently reported side effects associated with donepezil include headache, generalized pain, fatigue, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss, muscle cramping, joint pain, insomnia, and increased frequency of urination.

Tacrine (Cognex), another anticholinesterase medication used in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, is associated with liver toxicity. Donepezil does not appear to be associated with liver toxicity.