Aricept (donepezil) is a prescription drug approved to treat dementia related to Alzheimer’s disease. Aricept comes as a tablet that you swallow. It’s usually taken once per day.

Aricept is prescribed to adults with mild, moderate, or advanced Alzheimer’s disease. It’s used to treat symptoms of dementia, including problems with memory loss, thinking, and language.

To learn more about Aricept’s uses, see the “Uses for Aricept” section.

Aricept basics

Aricept contains the active ingredient donepezil. (An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.) It belongs to a group of drugs called acetylcholinesterase inhibitors.

Aricept is a brand-name medication. It’s also available as the generic drug donepezil.

Aricept is prescribed to treat the symptoms of dementia in people with Alzheimer’s disease.

Dementia is a general term used to describe a group of symptoms related to memory and thinking. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia.

Alzheimer’s disease affects your ability to remember, communicate, plan, and think clearly. The symptoms get worse with time. Early symptoms may include occasional forgetfulness and losing track of time. People with more advanced symptoms may lose their ability to communicate, care for themselves, or recognize family members.

Aricept can be used at any stage of Alzheimer’s disease. It can be used when the dementia symptoms are mild, moderate, or advanced.

The cause of Alzheimer’s disease isn’t known, but one contributing factor may be low levels of a certain chemical messenger in the brain. This chemical messenger is called acetylcholine. Aricept helps increase levels of acetylcholine. It does this by blocking an enzyme (a type of protein) that breaks down acetylcholine. This allows acetylcholine to build up in the brain.

Like most drugs, Aricept may cause mild to serious side effects. The following lists contain some of the more common side effects Aricept may cause, but they don’t include all possible side effects.

Keep in mind that side effects of a drug can depend on:

  • your age
  • other health conditions you have
  • other medications you take

Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about the potential side effects of Aricept. They can also suggest ways to help reduce side effects.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Sharing your experience helps make medications safer for everyone by giving doctors and researchers more information about how the drug works in real life. If you develop a side effect while taking Aricept and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch or call 800-FDA-1088.

Mild side effects

Here’s a list of some of the mild side effects that Aricept can cause. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist, or read Aricept’s prescribing information.

Mild side effects of Aricept that have been reported include:

  • nausea and vomiting
  • decreased appetite
  • diarrhea
  • muscle cramps
  • insomnia (trouble sleeping)
  • fatigue (low energy)
  • weight loss
  • bruising of the skin

Mild side effects of many drugs may go away within a few days to a couple of weeks. But if they become bothersome, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects from Aricept can occur, but they aren’t common. If you have serious side effects from Aricept, call your doctor right away. If you think you’re having a medical emergency, you should call 911 or your local emergency number.

Serious side effects of Aricept that have been reported include:

Allergic reaction

For some people, Aricept can cause an allergic reaction. But it’s not clear whether this side effect occurred in the drug’s studies.

In general, symptoms of an allergic reaction can be mild or serious.

What might help

If you have mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may suggest a treatment to manage your symptoms and can determine whether you should keep taking Aricept.

If you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms could be life threatening and require immediate medical care.

If your doctor confirms you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Aricept, they may have you switch to a different treatment.

The Aricept dosage your doctor prescribes will depend on several factors. These include:

  • the type and severity of the condition you’re taking Aricept to treat
  • your age
  • other medical conditions you may have

The following information describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended. However, be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs.

Form and strengths

Aricept is available as an oral tablet that you swallow. It comes in three strengths:

  • 5 milligrams (mg)
  • 10 mg
  • 23 mg

Recommended dosages

You’ll take your dose of Aricept once each evening before going to bed. Try to take your dose of Aricept at about the same time each evening so that you have a consistent amount of medication in your body. This can improve how well the medication works for you.

Your doctor will explain how you should take Aricept. They’ll also explain how much to take and how often. Be sure to follow your doctor’s instructions.

About taking Aricept

The following are some common questions about taking Aricept.

  • Can Aricept be chewed, crushed, or split? No, you should not split, chew, or crush Aricept tablets. You should swallow them whole. If you have trouble doing so, see these tips on how to swallow pills, or ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice.
  • Should I take Aricept with food? Aricept can be taken with or without food.
  • Is there a best time of day to take Aricept? It’s best to take Aricept at night before sleep. Try to take it around the same time each day. This helps keep a steady level of the drug in your body, which helps Aricept work effectively.
  • Will I need to take Aricept long term? Aricept is usually a long-term treatment. If Aricept is working well for you, you’ll likely take it long term.
  • How long does Aricept take to work? It can take a few weeks before Aricept is at a constant level in your body. This means that it may take at least a few weeks before it begins to work.
  • What if I miss a dose of Aricept? If you miss your dose of Aricept, skip your missed dose. Then, take your next dose at your usual time. Do not take two doses of Aricept at once to make up for a missed dose. If you miss a dose of Aricept for more than 7 days, talk with your doctor before taking your next dose. They may suggest restarting at a lower dose before taking your usual dose again.

Do not take more Aricept than your doctor prescribes, as this can lead to harmful effects.

Taking too much Aricept can cause a high level of acetylcholine in your body. This can cause a serious condition called cholinergic crisis.

Symptoms of a cholinergic crisis include:

In rare cases, overdose of Aricept may cause death.

What to do in case of overdose

Call your doctor if you think you’ve taken too much Aricept. You can also call 800-222-1222 to reach America’s Poison Centers or use its online resource. But if you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number. Or go to the nearest emergency room.

Aricept can interact with several other medications. These drugs include:

This list does not contain all types of drugs that may interact with Aricept.

Before taking Aricept, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Tell them about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take. Also tell them about any vitamins, herbs, or supplements you use. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions.

Aricept and alcohol

Aricept is not known to interact with alcohol. But if you have Alzheimer’s disease, it’s recommended that you avoid drinking alcohol. Alcohol consumption may worsen your Alzheimer’s disease with time.

If you do drink alcohol while taking Aricept, it’s possible for alcohol to increase the risk of certain side effects from Aricept. For example, both alcohol and Aricept can cause nausea. Taking them together may increase the risk of nausea. And if you already have nausea from Aricept, drinking alcohol may make it worse.

If you have questions about consuming alcohol with your condition or treatment plan, talk with your doctor.

Whether you have health insurance or not, cost may be a factor when you’re considering Aricept. What you’ll pay for Aricept may depend on several things, such as your treatment plan and the pharmacy you use.

Here are a few things to consider regarding cost:

  • Cost information and savings coupons: You can visit Optum Perks for price estimates of Aricept. These estimates are based on the use of Optum Perks coupons. Note: Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with insurance copays or benefits.
  • Generic form: Aricept is available as the generic drug donepezil. Generics usually cost less than brand-name drugs. Talk with your doctor if you’d like to know whether generic donepezil could be an option for you.
  • Savings program: If you have questions about how to pay for your prescription, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can tell you about other possible Aricept savings programs.

The following is important information to consider and discuss with your doctor or pharmacist before taking Aricept.

Pregnancy, breastfeeding, and Aricept

It’s not known whether Aricept is safe to take during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. Aricept hasn’t been studied in adults who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

It’s also not known whether Aricept may be present in breastmilk or what effects the drug may have on a breastfed child.

If you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning either, talk with your doctor about your options.

Birth control and Aricept

It’s not known whether Aricept is safe to take during pregnancy. So if you’re sexually active and you or your partner can become pregnant, talk with your doctor about your birth control options while you’re taking Aricept.

Aricept can sometimes cause harmful effects in people who have certain conditions. This is known as a drug-condition interaction. Other factors may also affect whether Aricept is a good treatment option for you.

Before taking Aricept, discuss your health history with your doctor. Aricept may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health. Be sure to talk with your doctor if any of the following apply to you:

Allergic reaction. If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Aricept or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Aricept. Ask them which medications are better options for you.

Bladder problems. Aricept may cause bladder neck obstruction. The bladder neck is where urine exits the bladder. If you have problems emptying your bladder, such as from an enlarged prostate or vaginal prolapse, taking Aricept may make your condition worse.

Heart problems. Aricept may cause a slow heartbeat or heart block. If you already have a heart condition, such as an irregular, slow, or fast heartbeat, taking Aricept may make it worse.

Kidney or liver problems. If you have kidney disease or liver disease, your body may not break down Aricept as quickly as it should. This may increase your risk of side effects from Aricept.

Low body weight. If you weigh less than 55 kilograms (about 120 pounds), you may have an increased risk of side effects from Aricept.

Lung conditions. If you have asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), or another lung problem, taking Aricept may increase your risk of bronchospasm (narrowed airways and breathing problems).

Seizure disorders. If you have epilepsy or have had seizures in the past, taking Aricept may increase your risk of seizures.

Ulcers or gastrointestinal bleeding. Aricept may increase your risk of peptic ulcers or gastrointestinal bleeding. Your doctor will want to know if you’ve had either of these problems in the past.

Upcoming surgery, medical procedures, or dental work. Aricept interacts with certain medications that may be given during general anesthesia. Tell the doctors or dentists performing the procedure that you take Aricept. This way, they can plan a safe anesthetic for you.

Find answers to some commonly asked questions about Aricept.

How does Aricept compare with other similar drugs, such as Namenda?

Aricept and memantine (Namenda, Namenda XR) are both used to treat dementia symptoms in people with Alzheimer’s disease, but they work in different ways. One drug may be better at helping certain symptoms than the other drug. Sometimes, these drugs are taken together.

Aricept and memantine may also cause different side effects. For example, some common side effects of Aricept are nausea and loss of appetite. Whereas common side effects of memantine include headaches and dizziness.

Finally, Aricept is used to treat all stages of Alzheimer’s disease, but memantine is only used to treat moderate to advanced stages.

Some other drugs used to treat Alzheimer’s disease are rivastigmine (Exelon) and galantamine (Razadyne ER). Like Aricept, they increase the amount of acetylcholine in the brain. (Acetylcholine is a chemical messenger.) But each drug is still unique, and one may work better for you than another.

If you have questions about which drug might be best for you, talk with your doctor.

Can Aricept be used for vascular dementia or ADHD?

Aricept is only approved to treat Alzheimer’s disease, but it may be used off-label for other reasons. With off-label use, doctors prescribe a drug for a purpose other than what it’s approved for.

Studies are being done to see if people with other conditions may benefit from treatment with Aricept. These conditions include vascular dementia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

If you have vascular dementia or ADHD and are looking for more information on treatment options, talk with your doctor. They can recommend the best treatment plan for you.

Will I experience certain side effects when stopping Aricept?

You shouldn’t experience side effects when you stop taking Aricept. But it’s possible that you’ll experience a return of your dementia symptoms.

Don’t stop taking Aricept without talking with your doctor first. If you and your doctor decide it’s not the right medication for you, your doctor may recommend that you gradually decrease your dose over a couple of weeks before stopping the drug altogether.

If you have concerns about side effects from Aricept or are thinking about stopping treatment, talk with your doctor.

How does Aricept work?

Aricept allows the chemical messenger acetylcholine to build up in the brain. It does this by blocking the enzyme (protein) that’s responsible for breaking down acetylcholine.

The exact cause of Alzheimer’s disease is unknown, but low levels of acetylcholine in the brain is thought to be a factor.

Aricept increases acetylcholine levels in the brain, improves dementia symptoms, and may slow down the progression of the disease. (With progression, a disease becomes worse over time.)

If you have questions or concerns about how Aricept works, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.

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