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Donepezil
Donepezil is a medicine that has been approved to help relieve symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. By stopping a specific enzyme from breaking down acetylcholine in the brain, the drug can help improve memory, attention, reason, language, and the ability to perform simple tasks. Donepezil comes in a variety of strengths and is available in the form of oral tablets and orally disintegrating tablets.
Donepezil (Aricept®) is a prescription medication that is used to treat the symptoms of mild, moderate, or severe Alzheimer's disease. It is not a cure for Alzheimer's, but it can help improve memory, attention, reason, language, and the ability to perform simple tasks.
(Click What Is Donepezil Used For? for more information on specific uses for this medication.)
As with any medicine, there are possible side effects. However, not everyone who takes medicine will experience side effects. In fact, most people tolerate it well. When side effects do occur, in most cases they are minor, meaning they require no treatment or are easily treated by you or your healthcare provider. If side effects do occur, most people do not need to stop their medicine.
The most common donepezil side effects include:
(Click Donepezil Side Effects to learn about the specific side effects of this drug, including possible serious side effects to look out for.)
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD