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Aricept

Pronunciation: air-eh-sept
Generic name: donepezil
Brand names: Aricept, Aricept ODT
Dosage forms: Tablets (5 mg, 10 mg, 23 mg), ODT Tablets (5 mg, 10 mg)
Drug class: Cholinesterase inhibitors

Medically reviewed by Melisa Puckey, BPharm. Last updated on Mar 26, 2024.

What is Aricept?

Aricept is used to treat dementia caused by Alzheimer's disease. Aricept can help improve attention, memory, behavior, and ability to do daily activities in dementia patients.

Aricept is not a cure for Alzheimer's disease; it may help improve symptoms, but the condition will progress over time, even in people who take this medicine. Aricept generic name is donepezil.  

Aricept improves the function of nerve cells in the brain. Aricept works by preventing the breakdown of a chemical called acetylcholine (ah SEET il KOE leen). People with dementia usually have lower levels of this chemical, which is important for the processes of memory, thinking, and reasoning. Aricept is from the drug class cholinesterase inhibitors.

Aricept side effects

Common Aricept side effects may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, muscle cramps, sleep problems (insomnia), or feeling tired.

Serious side effects of Aricept
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction with side effects symptoms of hives, difficulty breathing, and swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using this medicine and call your doctor at once if you have:

This is not a complete list of side effects of Aricept, and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Warnings

Before taking this medicine, tell your doctor if you have a heart rhythm disorder such as "sick sinus syndrome" (slow heartbeats), an enlarged prostate, urination problems, asthma, obstructive pulmonary disease, or a seizure disorder such as epilepsy.

If you need to have any type of surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are taking Aricept.

Aricept can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.

Before taking this medicine

You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to the active ingredient donepezil, certain other drugs or the inactive ingredients in this medicine. Tell your doctor if you are allergic to any medicines.

To make sure this medicine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

It is not known whether Aricept will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medicine.

It is not known whether donepezil passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I take Aricept?

Take Aricept exactly as it was prescribed for you. Follow all directions on your prescription label. Do not take this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.

Take Aricept one time each day.

You may take Aricept with or without food.

Regular tablets: Do not crush, chew, or break the regular tablet. Swallow it whole.

How to take Aricept ODT (orally disintegrating tablet):

If you need surgery or dental work, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are using Aricept. You may need to stop using the medicine for a short time.

You should not stop using Aricept without your doctor's advice.

Store at room temperature, away from moisture and heat.

Aricept Dosing information

Usual Adult Aricept Dosage for Alzheimer's Disease:

Initial dose: 5 mg orally once a day, in the evening prior to retiring

Mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease:
-Maintenance dose: 10 mg orally once a day after the patient has been on an initial dose of 5 mg once a day for 4 to 6 weeks

Moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease:
-Maintenance dose: 23 mg orally once a day, after the patient has been on a dose of 10 mg once a day for at least 3 months

Comments: A higher dose of 10 mg may or may not provide a statistically significantly greater clinical benefit than a 5 mg dose. Prescriber and patient's preference should be considered.

Uses: For mild, moderate, and severe Alzheimer's type dementia.

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Aricept dosage forms

Aricept is available as tablets (5 mg, 10 mg, 23 mg) and orally disintegrating tablets (ODT) (5 mg, 10 mg)

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

If you miss your doses for more than 7 days in a row, call your doctor before taking the medicine again.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Overdose symptoms may include severe nausea, vomiting, drooling, sweating, blurred vision, feeling light-headed, slow heartbeat, shallow breathing, muscle weakness, fainting, or seizure (convulsions).

What to avoid

This medicine may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.

What other drugs will affect Aricept?

Tell your doctor about all medicines you use, and those you start or stop using during your treatment with Aricept, especially:

This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with donepezil, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide.

Does Aricept interact with my other drugs?

Enter other medications to view a detailed interaction report.

Aricept Package Insert

This is not all the information you need to know about Aricept (donepezil) for safe and effective use and does not take the place of talking to your doctor about your treatment. Review the Aricept Package Insert here, and discuss this medicine and any questions you have with your doctor or other health care provider.

Storage

Store at room temperature between 59° to 86°F (15° to 30°C). 

Ingredients

Active ingredient:donepezil hydrochloride

Inactive ingredients:

Film-coated tablets (5 mg and 10 mg): lactose monohydrate, cornstarch, microcrystalline cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, and magnesium stearate. The film coating contains talc, polyethylene glycol, hypromellose, and titanium dioxide. Additionally, the 10 mg tablet contains yellow iron oxide (synthetic) as a coloring agent.

Film-coated tablets (23mg): ethylcellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, and methacrylic acid copolymer, Type C. The reddish color film coating includes ferric oxide, hypromellose 2910, polyethylene glycol 8000, talc, and titanium dioxide.

Orally disintegrating tablets ODT (5 mg, 10 mg): carrageenan, mannitol, colloidal silicon dioxide, and polyvinyl alcohol. The 10 mg tablet contains yellow iron oxide (synthetic) as a coloring agent.

Company

Distributed by Eisai Inc., Nutley, NJ 07110.

Popular FAQ

Can Aricept be stopped abruptly?

Do not stop taking Aricept (donepezil) without consulting your healthcare provider. If you stop taking Aricept abruptly, your Alzheimer’s disease symptoms can worsen. It is generally recommended to slowly taper down your dose of Aricept before stopping completely. Your doctor can help you stop Aricept safely. Continue reading

When is the best time to take Aricept (donepezil)?

The manufacturer recommends taking Aricept (donepezil) in the evening just before bedtime. Aricept can cause nausea and vomiting in some patients, as well as dizziness. Taking it before bedtime may help these side effects be less noticeable. However, your prescriber might recommend taking Aricept at a different time if it’s interfering with your sleep. Continue reading

What are 7 key Aricept side effects to watch out for?

Common side effects of Aricept include nausea, diarrhea, trouble sleeping, muscle cramps, and low appetite. For most people, these side effects last a few weeks and get better with continued use of Aricept. Continue reading

How long does it take for Aricept to work?

Aricept (donepezil) may start working within 3 weeks of starting treatment to improve Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive Subscale (ADAS-cog) scores, but can take up to 4-6 weeks to be effective for some people. Continue reading

How does Aricept work?

Aricept belongs to a class of drugs called cholinesterase inhibitors, which work by increasing acetylcholine levels to support better brain function. However, it does not change the progression of dementia itself. Continue reading

View more FAQ

Further information

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use Aricept only for the indication prescribed.

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.