Aricept

Generic Name: Donepezil hydrochloride
Product Name: Aricept

Indication: What Aricept is used for

Aricept is used in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease to help improve your ability to remember things.

Action: How Aricept works

People with Alzheimer’s disease have lower levels of some chemicals that the brain uses to function. Having a low level of acetylcholine can make remembering things difficult. Aricept stops the breakdown process of acetylcholine, thus increasing the amount of it in the brain.

Dose advice: How to use Aricept

• Aricept comes as either a 5mg or 10mg tablet. Your doctor will tell you which strength of Aricept you should take.
• Aricept is usually taken once a day at bedtime and may be taken with or without food.
• Pregnancy category B3 – Not recommended for use in pregnancy due to limited experience of use in pregnant or breastfeeding humans.

Schedule of Aricept

Schedule 4

Side effects of Aricept

Common side effects

All medications have side effects, the most common of which are usually mild. Talk to your doctor if you experience or are concerned about any of these side effects. Common side effects occurring in 2% or more of people are:

• Diarrhoea
• Nausea and vomiting
• Dizziness
• Difficulty sleeping (Insomnia)

Uncommon side effects

Uncommon side affects occur in 1% or less of people. Do not be alarmed by this list. You may not experience any of these:

• Rashes
• Agitation and confusion
• Swelling of the hands or feet
• High or low blood pressure

Consult your doctor if you experience any of the above symptoms, or any other unusual or abnormal symptoms that concern you.

Click here to view ‘Alzheimer’s Disease – look forward’ An in-depth look into understanding and managing Alzheimer’s disease.

Useful tools

Dementia Benchmark Checklist Once this checklist is completed the scores will establish a benchmark for all subsequent checklists. Ideally, these should be completed every 6 months.

Mini-cog The Mini-Cog is a 3 minute test which can be used to discriminate between demented and non-demented persons.

Educational videos

References

1. Australian Medicines Handbook. Aricept .[Monograph online]AMH Pty Ltd 2007[cited December 5, 2007]. Available from: [URL Link]
2. Aricept. MIMs Online. [Monograph online]MIMS Australia Pty Ltd 2007.[Cited December 5, 2007]. Available from: [URL Link]

For further information talk to your doctor.