About Aricept: Uses, Dosage and Side Effects

Introduction

The brand-name prescription medication Aricept has donepezil as its active component. It belongs to a class of medications known as cholinesterase inhibitors, which function by raising the concentrations of the brain's acetylcholine neurotransmitter. The functions of acetylcholine include memory, thought, and reasoning.

The FDA has given Aricept approval to treat dementia in people brought on by mild, moderate, or severe Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's disease is an illness that worsens with time and affects the brain cells, leading to changes in behaviour, memory loss, and cognition. Although Aricept is not a treatment for Alzheimer's disease, it may help some patients delay the progression of their symptoms.

Take Aricept as directed

The tablet form of Aricept is taken once daily in the evening just before bedtime, with or without meals. There are three strengths available: 5 mg, 10 mg, and 23 mg. In accordance with your response and tolerance, your doctor will start you on a low dose and progressively raise it.

Another form of Aricept is an ODT, which dissolves in your mouth without the use of water. The ODT should not be broken, chewed, or crushed. To take it, remove the pill from the blister pack using dry hands, peel or cut the backing, and then place the tablet on your tongue. The tablet shouldn't be swallowed whole; instead, you should let it dissolve in your tongue and then swallow it multiple times.

When using Aricept, be sure to strictly adhere to your doctor's instructions. Without first seeing your doctor, do not alter your dosage or stop taking it. To experience any advantages, Aricept may need to be taken for a very long time. If you forget to take a dose, do so right away unless it is almost time for your next dose. Skip the missing dose in that case, and carry on with your regular routine. To make up for a missing dose, do not take two at once.

Side effects of aricept

Aricept's adverse effects might range from minor to severe. The most typical Aricept adverse effects include:

• Nausea vomiting
• Diarrhoea appetite loss
• Muscle cramps
• Tiredness
• Sleeplessness
• Bruises

Typically minor, these side effects may disappear as your body becomes used to the medicine. However, you should inform your doctor if they continue or get worse.

Aricept side effects can range from minor to severe, necessitating urgent medical intervention. These consist of:

• Sluggish heartbeat
• Seizures, difficulties urinating, and breathing issues
• Abdominal bleeding or ulcers

If you have any of these side effects while taking Aricept, you need to contact your doctor right away.

Interactions with Aricept

If you use any other drugs, vitamins, or herbs, Aricept may interact with them. Some of these interactions could alter how Aricept functions or raise the possibility of negative side effects. As a result, you should disclose to your doctor everything you use, including prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals, and herbal remedies.

The following are some instances of medications and Aricept that may interact:

• Anticholinergic medications (including scopolamine, benztropine, and atropine)
• Antifungal medications (including itraconazole and ketoconazole)
• Medicines, including paroxetine and fluoxetine
• Anti-inflammatory medications, including aspirin and ibuprofen
• Antipsychotic medications (including quetiapine and risperidone)
• Beta-blockers, including propranolol and metoprolol
• Muscle relaxants (like cyclobenzaprine and baclofen)
• Medicine for seizures (such as carbamazepine and phenytoin)

The list of probable interactions with Aricept is not exhaustive. Before beginning or quitting any medicine, you should always consult your doctor or chemist.

Aricept safety measures

You must disclose the following to your doctor before beginning Aricept:

• A reaction to donepezil or another component of Aricept
• A condition affecting the heart's rhythm, such as sick sinus syndrome or atrial fibrillation
• A background of stomach bleeding or ulcers
• Urinary issues or an enlarged prostate
• A liver or renal condition
• Breathing issues such as COPD, asthma, or others
• Various seizure conditions, such as epilepsy
• Difficulty swallowing

Additionally, you should disclose to your doctor if you are nursing a baby or are pregnant or intend to get pregnant. Aricept's ability to damage an unborn child or enter breast milk is unknown. The advantages and disadvantages of using Aricept while pregnant or breast-feeding will be weighed by your doctor.

Aricept may cause you to act or think differently. When driving or engaging in any activity that calls for alertness, you should use caution. Additionally, you should abstain from alcohol while taking Aricept because it may make some of the negative effects worse.

Without seeing your doctor, you shouldn't stop taking Aricept because doing so could make your symptoms worse or have withdrawal consequences. Inform your surgeon that you are taking Aricept if you require any kind of surgery. It might be necessary for you to temporarily cease taking it prior to the surgery.

Aricept should be kept in a secure location away from kids and animals. Don't distribute it to anyone else. Additionally, you want to keep it at normal temperature and shield it from light, heat, and moisture.

A substitute for Aricept

There are other medications besides Aricept that can be used to treat dementia brought on by Alzheimer's disease. Other medications in the same class as Aricept include galantamine (Razadyne) and rivastigmine (Exelon). While these medications function in a manner similar to Aricept, they may differ in terms of dose, side effects, and interactions.

Another class of medications known as NMDA receptor antagonists, including memantine (Namenda), function by preventing the brain neurotransmitter glutamate. Although glutamate plays a role in memory and learning, too much of it can harm brain tissue. Memantine may enhance cognitive performance and lessen the harm done by glutamate.

Based on your medical history, condition, and preferences, your doctor will assist you in selecting the medicine that is most appropriate for you. In order to determine the most beneficial and comfortable course of treatment for you, you might also need to test a variety of drugs or prescription combinations.

Without a prescription from your doctor, you shouldn't use any alternative medications because they might not be secure or useful for your problem. Additionally, you shouldn't stop taking your prescribed medication without consulting your doctor because doing so could make your symptoms worse or have withdrawal symptoms.

Conclusion

Aricept is a drug that can help people with Alzheimer's disease enhance cognitive performance and decrease the course of dementia. It works by raising acetylcholine levels, which are vital for memory, thinking, and reasoning. Side effects of Aricept include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, sleeplessness, and a sluggish heartbeat. Other drugs, vitamins, or herbs may also interact with it. As a result, you should take Aricept exactly as prescribed by your doctor and carefully follow their recommendations. You should also inform your doctor if you have any other medical conditions or allergies, as well as if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Aricept is not a cure for Alzheimer's disease, but it may help you live a better life and postpone the need for more specialised care.