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What is donepezil?
Donepezil improves the function of nerve cells in the brain. It works by preventing the breakdown of a chemical called acetylcholine (ah see til KO leen). People with dementia usually have lower levels of this chemical, which is important for the processes of memory, thinking, and reasoning. Donepezil is used to treat mild to moderate dementia caused by Alzheimer's disease. Donepezil may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

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What is the price of this medication and similar alternatives?

This pricing information is subject to change at the sole discretion of DS Pharmacy. For the most current and up-to-date pricing information, please visit drugstore.com.

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What are the possible side effects of donepezil?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using donepezil and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• black, bloody, or tarry stools;

• coughing up blood or vomit that looks like blood or coffee grounds;

• painful or difficult urination;

• seizure (black-out or convulsions);

Less serious side effects may include:

• nausea, vomiting, diarrhea;

• loss of appetite;

• muscle cramps;

• tired feeling; or

• sleep problems (insomnia).

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.

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How should I take donepezil?
Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label. If you need to have any type of surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are taking donepezil. You may need to stop using the medicine for a short time. Donepezil can be taken with or without food or milk. Take the donepezil regular tablets with a full glass of water.

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What is the most important information I should know about donepezil?
Before taking donepezil, tell your doctor if you have a heart rhythm disorder such as "sick sinus syndrome" (slow heartbeats), an enlarged prostate, urination problems, asthma, obstructive pulmonary disease, or a seizure disorder such as epilepsy. If you need to have any type of surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are taking donepezil. Donepezil can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.

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What happens if I miss a dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

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What other drugs will affect donepezil?
Before taking donepezil, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines: atropine (Donnatal, and others); belladonna; carbamazepine (Tegretol); clidinium (Quarzan); dexamethasone (Decadron); dicyclomine (Bentyl); glycopyrrolate (Robinul); hyoscyamine (Anaspaz, Cystospaz, Levsin, and others); mepenzolate (Cantil); methantheline (Provocholine); methscopolamine (Pamine), scopolamine (Transderm-Scop); phenobarbital (Luminal, Solfoton); phenytoin (Dilantin); propantheline (Pro-Banthine);

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Can I take this if I am pregnant or trying to get pregnant or if I am breastfeeding?

Donepezil has been assigned to pregnancy category C by the FDA. Animal studies have revealed an increase in stillbirths and decrease in survival through postpartum day four. There are no controlled data in human pregnancy. Donepezil should only be given in pregnancy when benefit outweighs risk.

There are no data on the excretion of donepezil into human milk.

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Who should NOT use this medication?

• Known hypersensitivity to donepezil or piperidine derivatives or any ingredient in the formulation.

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What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. Overdose symptoms may include severe nausea, vomiting, drooling, sweating, blurred vision, feeling light-headed, slow heartbeat, shallow breathing, muscle weakness, fainting, or seizure (convulsions).

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What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking donepezil?
Do not take this medication if you are allergic to donepezil. Before taking donepezil, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have: a heart rhythm disorder such as "sick sinus syndrome" (slow heartbeats); a history of stomach ulcers; an enlarged prostate or urination problems; epilepsy or other seizure disorder; or asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take donepezil.

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Can I stop taking the medication if I feel better?
As a general rule, you should always take your medications exactly as prescribed and do not change the dosage or stop taking the medication without first discussing it with your healthcare provider.

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I am on so many medications; do I have to take them all?
This is called polypharmacy—many different medications being used at the same time by one person. Sometimes, being on multiple medications is acceptable and appropriate but at other times it may be problematic. If you are receiving your medications from multiple physicians you need to ensure that they all know what medications you are taking. The best way to do this is to make a list of all the medications you are currently using, including all nutritional supplements, homeopathic remedies, vitamins and over-the-counter drugs (if possible, also include all the diseases you have been diagnosed with). Give a copy to every doctor who takes care of you so they have it on file, this way they can avoid duplicating medications and perhaps even try to consolidate some. After every doctor's visit remember to update the list accordingly. Also, as much as you possibly can, try to use the same pharmacy to fill all your prescriptions, this way any potential drug interactions can be caught and averted.

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Where can I get more information?
More Information

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