Aricept User Reviews & Ratings

• Eve...
• February 29, 2020

For Alzheimer's Disease "My mom took this for 4 days, and it was the most horrible experience of all of our lives. She has very mild dementia from stroke and TIAs. We thought perhaps her inability to walk and anxiety could be helped by a neurologist, and this was prescribed. We should have waited for the MRI. She did not eat hardly at all. She cried a lot, and at night, she went completely insane. She thought I was her mother. So, the doctor took her off of it. Then, the 2 weeks of withdrawal with hallucinations, diarrhea, etc., wandering around without clothes. I am afraid she will never come back to herself again. One of the worst things I have ever been through, and I can't imagine how bad it was for her."

• ALZ...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 20, 2013

For Alzheimer's Disease "63-year-old woman, early-onset Alzheimer's diagnosed July 2013. Prescribed Aricept 5 mg and Namenda. Found Namenda made me agitated and angry, so quit. 10 mg Aricept and serious side effects. While waiting for a new doctor to take over the past neurologist's care, have adjusted meds myself to keep the memory help - which is astounding - and lessens side effects, which includes severe muscle cramps in legs, water retention, ankle and hand swelling, back pain, increased blood pressure, heart palpitations. I now take 1/2 of the 5 mg tablet in the morning and am still retaining benefits with reduced side effects. Aricept restored my ability to read and gave me energy and focus I have not had in 3 years. Lower dose on most meds always works better for me."

• cjr...
• September 13, 2010

For Alzheimer's Disease "Two years ago my mom used 5mg of Aricept for one month. She became almost a total zombie taking this medicine. She would not get out of bed, and her mind was a lot worse than before she started taking it. A month ago, she was put on 10mg of Aricept, and after two doses, she was taken to the hospital. She was totally out of control and knew nothing of what was going on. It is not for everyone."

• ann...
• November 22, 2010

For Alzheimer's Disease "I have been on this medication for 4 months now. I am 55 with early-onset Alzheimer's. I have noticed a significant improvement. I do not feel as much anymore as if I am walking around in a fog. I have not had any side effects at all from this medication. I am hopeful that it will stave off a rapid progression of this disease."

• Bob...
• November 30, 2018

For Alzheimer's Disease "I have been on Aricept 5mg at bedtime for 2 months. I was diagnosed just after I turned 60 this summer. I started having trouble finishing a sentence, my mind would go blank. I knew something was wrong. Had the blood test APOE test and scored 3/4 out of 4/4. Aricept seems to be helping me think clearer. The side effects of Diarrhea first happened in the beginning, but went away. Don't give up on this medication. It's helping me."

• Dem...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 20, 2013

For Alzheimer's Disease "I noticed a big difference once starting this medication. I do Sudoku puzzles every day. Eventually, I stopped taking this medicine because of leg cramps that kept me up at night, and I could not do Sudoku as well. Once I went back on the medicine, I could resume my puzzles. My pharmacist gave me Hyland's for leg cramps, and now I sleep better and am not so foggy. Very happy."

• San...
• January 2, 2019

For Alzheimer's Disease "My mother was only on 0.5 mg but was confused and strange on it. She was on it for two weeks until finally I took her off. She has never been the same since. She used to follow a routine. Now her brain is terrible. It makes me sick to my stomach how much this drug deteriorated my mother. She got a throat infection and a finger infection during that time. If you read the fine print, 13% of people get an infection on it. But they say, I don't believe them, that 12% get an infection on placebo, making it 1% extra people that get an infection. Well then my mom was the 1% and had to go on antibiotics that screwed her system up too. I really feel sick we gave her this drug."

• Map...
• October 7, 2016

For Alzheimer's Disease "Several years of vascular dementia and growing increasingly worse. Now, my 89-year-old mother started Aricept during the last month. The first day she was like a new person, clear thinking with memory, energy, and motivated. The second day much less, and she was dizzy and constipated by the 6th day. Now, appearing more confused than without the drug. Not a good experience, will be moving on."

• the...
• October 27, 2011

For Alzheimer's Disease "In 2000, my mother suffered persistent diarrhea with this medicine, could not get rid of it until the medicine was stopped. My mother-in-law had the same problem this year. She also had delusions and paranoia, which have been almost eliminated by a medicine she started a month ago, Risperidone. If you try Risperidone, start with the lowest dose, it makes her very sleepy, and a side effect is a depressed heart rate, which can be dangerous. It also stimulates appetite, which was good for Mom, she was losing 1-2 pounds per week, but the doctor cautioned against excess weight gain and concerns regarding diabetes. We're going to try 100 mg niacin, I've read that it can help cognitive function. Even when they don't know your name, they know when they are loved. Show them."

• Ald...
• May 11, 2013

For Alzheimer's Disease "My mom has been on Aricept for 5 months, 5 mg. Mom has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's. Medication has helped her be more alert, making longer conversations, better effect. Short memory exists but her condition had not worsened. Will see neurologist to determine to increase medication to 10 mg. Mom's condition has been stable and we are hoping to slow the disease."

• mar...
• June 16, 2019

For Alzheimer's Disease "Had great hopes for Aricept to help but it left me very weak and sore from nausea and diarrhea 8 hours after taking. I could do very little all day. I weigh less than 100 lbs and think even 5 mg was too much for me. Glad it works for some. I will not take this med again."

• Den...
• November 24, 2007

For Alzheimer's Disease "My father has been on Aricept for 6 weeks and has become delusional especially at night. My mother stopped the medication because he wasn't sleeping at all at night and thus neither was she. I don't see this listed as a side effect and don't know if the change in my father's behavior is related to the Aricept or just increasing severity of his dementia. Will have to wait and see if things get better now that he's off the drug."

• kat...
• August 27, 2010

For Alzheimer's Disease "My husband was diagnosed 10/21/2009 with moderate Alzheimer's. He was started on Namenda for 4-6 weeks and then Aricept, 10mg. Before he took the medicines, he was roaming at night and hallucinating. After he took the medicines for a while, he stopped hallucinating, he wasn't confused as often, he can carry through a normal day, including eating out with friends 5 days a week, helping take care of the grandchildren, 6 & 10, use his riding mower, and yesterday, 8/17/10 he re-spooled his weedeater. He hasn't been able to do that for a long time. At this time he's suffering from long-term constipation and has just had a positive hemoccult (stool test). A colonoscopy is next. Could this be a side effect?"

• car...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 24, 2015

For Alzheimer's Disease "I have taken Namenda and Aricept for years. Memory has improved! I have had the vivid dreams others have described, also muscle cramps. I am going to cut back on the Aricept and see if it helps...although I usually enjoy my dreams!"

• Peh...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 7, 2017

For Alzheimer's Disease "My mother was on this medication for 2 weeks for early stages of Alzheimer's. The first week, the family thought we could see noticeable improvement. By the end of the 2nd week, she was confused and defecating in her hand, which she had never done before. The doctor discontinued it and after a few days, she was back to where she was before starting the med. My advice is to watch your loved one closely for side effects."

• Fur...
• August 29, 2007

For Alzheimer's Disease "Mom was having memory problems and was prescribed this drug. By the 4th week on the drug, she was having delusions. It's been 6 months and the delusions seem to be reduced, but not gone. Caffeine seems to add to the problem so we are reducing her coffee. She also seems to get better when she exercises (walking)."

• Bob...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 20, 2019

For Alzheimer's Disease "Update, now on 10 mg of Aricept for Alzheimer's. Memory has improved a bit but still some confusion when driving. Overall, I feel like it is helping. Can now finish most sentences, but my mind still wanders. Time will tell. I'm turning 61 next week and very thankful for my neurologist. God bless."

• Caj...
• September 21, 2009

For Alzheimer's Disease "My mother was on this as well for 6 weeks when the delusions started. The pharmacist said that it would take a little while to get out of her system. I did see a major improvement in her short-term memory! Maybe the drug makers could alter the recommended dosage to once a week since this seems to be a buildup before we see the delusions happen. I didn't want to take her off of it because of the improvement, but I did not want her to continue to wander out of the house because of the voices she was hearing."

• Car...
• May 18, 2016

For Alzheimer's Disease "My mother (74) was prescribed Aricept when she was diagnosed about 5 years ago. She had very few side effects and seemed less anxious. However, there was no noticeable change in cognitive function, which has deteriorated fairly rapidly, especially in the last 2 years. It is hard to say whether the drug had any positive effect as I will never know what my mother would have been like without it. It may or may not have slowed the progression of the Alzheimer's."

• My ...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 8, 2015

For Alzheimer's Disease "My 82-year-old dad went on this med to slow the memory loss. It did seem to help that, but we have had uncharacteristic behavioral issues where he can't keep his hands off the ladies. So much that it is a problem in the assisted living memory care unit he lives in, and now he has to go to a behavioral place to change his medicine. Sheesh!"

• San...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 12, 2019

"I came on this site to try to find out more information on Aricept for use for my issues (overactive brain) and not dementia. I came to find out I was wrong, no one talked about my issues. The doctor told my husband it was generally given for dementia, but it may help me. That is the best decision a doctor has ever made for me. I am a new person. Prior to taking this, I felt like I didn't ever sleep, and when I did, my mind was racing, and I could feel my arms moving all of the time. He gave me 5 mg for 1 month, and the second month, which starts tomorrow, I go onto 10 mg. I pray it keeps working this good. This drug has saved my life and my marriage."

• ber...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 27, 2019

For Alzheimer's Disease "My MD tagged my DL (driver's license) when she prescribed this med. When I asked why, she said, 'We report every prescription of this med to the DMV.' So (age 71), I took the written test and am scheduled for the road test. Proctor said, 'You did VERY well!' on the written test! Not too worried about the driving test (my 40-year-old niece says, 'You drive better than I do!'). So be forewarned. Drug well tolerated, no issues. Is it doing anything good? Who knows?"

• jus...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 21, 2023

For Alzheimer's Disease "The neurologist prescribed Namenda. Too many side effects. Went on Aricept and was more confused, diarrhea, stomach cramps, resting heartbeat 90, couldn't sleep. Excessive crying was frightening. No reason to cry. I came home one night and was planning a suicide attempt, crying and exhausted. I stopped taking it immediately. I have never had a thought about suicide. Very frightening. I'm a 66-year-old woman with dementia. I did not experience anything positive with this medication."

• Tah...
• August 24, 2017

For Alzheimer's Disease "At 78, my husband started on Aricept 10 mg for increasing symptoms of Alzheimer's. He did well for a long time. Memory improved. When he started to decline again months later, he was put on Namzaric. Did great again for many months. He now has had an increase in Aricept. Showed improvement. Again. Wishing this would last."

• yog...
• July 16, 2008

For Alzheimer's Disease "After brain surgery, my vocabulary and speech became very bad. A doctor suggested Aricept. I didn't notice any improvement in my speech, but my kids did. Apparently, it works for different things. Because of the surgery, my short-term memory is out. Long-term memory is still there."