What is donepezil 10 mg used for?
Donepezil is used to treat confusion (dementia) related to Alzheimer’s disease. It does not cure Alzheimer’s disease, but it may improve memory, awareness, and the ability to function. This medication is an enzyme blocker that works by restoring the balance of natural substances (neurotransmitters) in the brain.
What happens if you take too much Aricept?
Overdose symptoms may include severe nausea, vomiting, drooling, sweating, blurred vision, feeling light-headed, slow heartbeat, shallow breathing, muscle weakness, fainting, or seizure (convulsions). Avoid driving or hazardous activity until you know how this medicine will affect you.
Is 10 mg of donepezil a lot?
For mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease: Adults—5 milligrams (mg) taken at bedtime. Your doctor may increase your dose as needed. However, the dose usually is not more than 10 mg per day.
What are the side effects of Aricept 10 mg?
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite/weight loss, dizziness, drowsiness, weakness, trouble sleeping, shakiness (tremor), or muscle cramps may occur as your body adjusts to the drug. These effects usually last 1-3 weeks and then lessen.
Does Aricept make you sleepy?
SIDE EFFECTS: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite/weight loss, dizziness, drowsiness, weakness, trouble sleeping, shakiness (tremor), or muscle cramps may occur as your body adjusts to the drug. These effects usually last 1-3 weeks and then lessen.
Can donepezil cause anger?
Some people taking Aricept may engage in aggressive behavior. While aggression wasn’t specifically reported in clinical studies of the drug, hostility was reported in these studies. Aggression was reported in some people after clinical studies were completed.
Can Aricept 10 mg be cut in half?
Aricept oral tablets that contain 5 milligrams (mg) or 10 mg of the active drug ingredient may be crushed or split. Most people swallow these whole. If your doctor advises you to do so, you can cut the 5-mg or 10-mg tablets in half. If you take the 23-mg oral tablets, you should swallow each tablet whole.
Is Aricept worth taking?
And in the study, those people who stayed on Aricept did better than those who stopped taking it. They scored higher on standard tests measuring their mental ability and also were better able to perform activities of daily living. These improvements, however, faded in the later stages of Alzheimer’s.
Why is Aricept taken at bedtime?
Why does Aricept have to be taken at night? Aricept is taken at night because it can cause irregular or slow heartbeat for some patients, which can cause fainting. When it is taken at bedtime, patients are able to sleep through those side effects.
Can Aricept cause anger?
Why do you take Aricept at bedtime?
What are the 3 most commonly prescribed drugs for dementia?
Three cholinesterase inhibitors are commonly prescribed:
- Donepezil (Aricept) is approved to treat all stages of the disease. It’s taken once a day as a pill.
- Galantamine (Razadyne) is approved to treat mild to moderate Alzheimer’s.
- Rivastigmine (Exelon) is approved for mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease.