Donepezil and Diarrhea: What Users Say

• Eve...
• February 29, 2020

Donepezil 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."

• Bob...
• November 30, 2018

Donepezil 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."

• mar...
• June 16, 2019

Donepezil 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."

• dau...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 21, 2015

For Alzheimer's Disease "My mother was on this and had negative side effects, diarrhea, weakness, changes in behaviors, combative, using foul language, on 10 mg. I complained, and the MD took her off, then put her back on 3 months later, same side effects. I am disgusted at how these meds are prescribed, and the side effects are WORSE than the behaviors. I am an RN, and this is abuse of our elder patients."

• Anonymous
• November 12, 2014

For Mild Cognitive Impairment "Husband diagnosed 1/2014 at age 57. Put on donepezil at that time. Doesn't seem to have made much of a difference for him. His memory is not the issue as much, he has problems with judgement, spatial, sequencing, and vision. When first prescribed, he was taking it at night and had vivid dreams. He rather enjoyed them as most included friends and family from years ago. Dr. instructed him to take the medicine in the morning as to not interrupt his sleep. The medicine also causes diarrhea. Modifying diet to try to compensate. Want to stay on the medicine in hopes of slower decline."

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

Donepezil 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."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 27, 2016

For Alzheimer's Disease "My 65-year-old husband started the 1/2 pill regimen 5 weeks ago. Big improvement in conversations, no longer accusing people of stealing from him. Then we had to wait 5 days for the prescription to be refilled. That was a decline, back to talking to imaginary people, aggressive behavior, no energy. Now he is on the whole pill. Wow, almost back to being pleasant. He takes his in the morning, so no sleep interrupted. Energy back, never had a side effect as far as loss of appetite, weight loss, diarrhea. Early stage of Alzheimer's/dementia. Glad he is doing better, still a day-to-day."

• Mar...
• August 31, 2016

For Alzheimer's Disease "My mother-in-law was on this drug for 2 months. While her short-term memory continued to fail, she also seemed more confused. We took her off, and she has started to seem less confused-this is week 3 without. She has also experienced diarrhea and has lost weight. I am not sure there is a reliable study that can tell how well this drug might work for some because everyone's disease is different. We can't go back and see how they would have done without the drug. We will not be putting her back on."

• Liz...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 23, 2020

For Mild Cognitive Impairment "I have bipolar disorder and am 50 years old. I noticed I had zero recall, disorientation, and difficulty with words. My family doctor sent me to a neuro, where I got extensive testing. I was diagnosed with ADHD and CMI, so I started with a 5 mg dose of donepezil and noticed a huge difference within 2-3 weeks. I had some mild leg cramping and diarrhea. After 2 months and a neuro visit, we increased to 10 mg. I have been on it for one month. I do not notice any difference except now I am having dreams, I haven’t had a dream in over a year, and they may not be pleasant. I talk to neuro in another month, but so far, this medicine is great."

• Car...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 15, 2024

For Alzheimer's Disease "Been taking donepezil for a little over 2 years. Began on a very low dose, had zero side effects. Currently taking the max dose, stools are rather soft but not watery. Often feel very tired, however, I force myself to walk and do light exercise. I have tried to enter Alzheimer's studies but pass all cognitive tests with high scores and have not been accepted in any study. Assume medication is helping or I was misdiagnosed."

• WTF...
• September 21, 2016

Donepezil for Alzheimer's Disease "Father was almost himself again with Aricept, but it gave him uncontrollable diarrhea so he won't take it."

• sam...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 22, 2019

Donepezil for Alzheimer's Disease "This was used on one of my parents. Expensive - does not help and caused diarrhea."

• ken...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 2, 2012

For Mild Cognitive Impairment "Nausea, diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss, dizziness, drowsiness, weakness, memory loss worsening."

• Lad...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 8, 2025

Donepezil "Worsened depression, vivid dreams being confused for reality, tiredness, and diarrhea."