Donepezil Information
What is this drug used for?
• It is used to treat dementia in people with Alzheimer’s disease.
• It may be given to you for other reasons. Talk with the doctor.
Possible side effects
Donepezil may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
• Feeling dizzy, tired, or weak.
• Diarrhea, upset stomach, or throwing up.
• Trouble sleeping.
• Muscle cramps.
• Not hungry.
• Weight loss.
• Headache.
Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms, call your doctor immediately or get emergency medical treatment:
• Signs of an allergic reaction, like rash; hives; itching; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin with or without fever; wheezing; tightness in the chest or throat; trouble breathing, swallowing, or talking; unusual hoarseness; or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Very bad dizziness or passing out.
• Slow heartbeat.
• A heartbeat that does not feel normal.
• Trouble passing urine.
• Seizures.
• Heartburn.
• Very bad belly pain.
• Throwing up blood or throw up that looks like coffee grounds.
• Black, tarry, or bloody stools.
• Trouble breathing that is new or worse.
Medication Safety Issues
Sound-alike/look-alike issues:
Aricept may be confused with AcipHex, Ascriptin, and Azilect
Storage and Stability
Store at 15°C to 30°C (59°F to 86°F).
Adverse Reactions
>10%:
Central nervous system: Insomnia (2% to 14%)
Gastrointestinal: Nausea (3% to 19%), diarrhea (5% to 15%)
Miscellaneous: Accidental injury (7% to 13%)
1% to 10%:
Cardiovascular: Hypertension (3%), chest pain (2%), syncope (2%)
Central nervous system: Headache (3% to 10%), pain (3% to 9%), dizziness (2% to 8%), fatigue (1% to 8%), abnormal dreams (3%), hallucination (3%), hostility (3%), nervousness (3%), depression (2% to 3%), confusion (2%), emotional lability (2%), personality disorder (2%), drowsiness (1% to 2%)
Dermatologic: Ecchymosis (4% to 5%), eczema (3%)
Endocrine & metabolic: Weight loss (3% to 5%), hyperlipidemia (2%)
Gastrointestinal: Vomiting (3% to 9%), anorexia (2% to 8%), gastroenteritis (≤1%)
Genitourinary: Urinary incontinence (1% to 3%), urinary frequency (2%)
Hematologic & oncologic: Bruise (2%), hemorrhage (2%)
Neuromuscular & skeletal: Muscle cramps (3% to 8%), back pain (3%), increased creatine phosphokinase in blood specimen (3%), arthritis (2%), asthenia (1% to 2%)
Miscellaneous: Fever (2%)
<1%, postmarketing, and/or case reports: Abdominal pain, aggressive behavior, agitation, cholecystitis, heart block, hemolytic anemia, hepatitis, hyponatremia, neuroleptic malignant syndrome, pancreatitis, peptic ulcer, prolonged QT interval on ECG, rhabdomyolysis, seizure, skin rash, torsades de pointes
