Will these side effects subside with time or should she decrease to 5mg vs try another medication for her dementia? CathyBruce
My Mom is having nightmares and diarrhea with the 10mg. Aricept dose?
- Posted:
- 15 Jul 2010 by CathyBruce
- Topics:
- aricept, diarrhea, dementia, nightmares, side effect
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Answers (3)
Rajive Goel15 Jul 2010
Up to 5 percent of people taking Aricept 5 mg and 13 percent of people taking Aricept 10 mg daily stopped their medicine because of side effects. Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea were the most common reasons why people stopped taking Aricept. Side effects tend to be less severe if the dose is slowly increased over a period of several weeks.
Diarrhea was reported in around -- up to 10 percent, Insomnia/nightmares due to perhaps lack of sleep in around -- up to 9 percent, who took Aricept.
However it is recommended to seek medical advice or a change in prescription so that your mother does not have the side effects & the med is well tolerated, hope this helps?
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What side effects can this medication cause? Return to top
Donepezil may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
•nausea
•vomiting
•diarrhea
•loss of appetite
•weight loss
•frequent urination
•muscle cramps
•joint pain, swelling, or stiffness
•pain
•excessive tiredness
•drowsiness
•headache
•dizziness
•nervousness
•depression
•confusion
•changes in behavior
•abnormal dreams
•difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
•discoloration or bruising of the skin
•red, scaling, itchy skin
Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms, call your doctor immediately:
•fainting
•slow heartbeat
•chest pain
•black or tarry stools
•red blood in stools
•bloody vomit
•vomit that looks like coffee grounds
•inability to control urination
•difficulty urinating or pain when urinating
•lower back pain
•fever
•seizures
Donepezil may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.