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Aricept
Generic Name: Donepezil Hydrochloride
Packets of 28 x 5 mg Tablets
Manufactured by Eisai Co. Ltd & Pfizer Inc
Use
Aricept is a drug that is used in the treatment of Alzheimers Disease and known as an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor. One important neurotransmitter in the brain is acetylcholine which is believed to be involved in the memory process. People with Alzheimer's disease have less acetylcholine in their brains than other people. Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors have been shown to stabilize Alzheimers disease and help slow the progression of the symptoms of the disease.
Dosage
Aricept should be taken once a day just before bedtime. Be sure it's taken every day. If Aricept is not taken regularly, it won't work. It can be taken with or without food. The usual starting dose is 5 milligrams once a day at bedtime for at least 4 to 6 weeks.
Side effects
The most frequent side effects include nausea and vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach cramps and headaches, dizziness, fatigue, insomnia and loss of appetite. Patients taking Aricept have also reported loss of appetite; hallucinations, agitation, aggressive behaviour; fainting, seizures; shaking, stiffness or uncontrollable movement especially of the face and tongue but also of the limbs; slow heart beat; abdominal disturbances including bleeding, stomach and duodenal ulcers; liver disorders including hepatitis; itching, rash and urinary incontinence. In patients who have had stomach ulcers, and those who take a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug such as Advil, Nuprin, or Aleve, Aricept can make stomach side effects worse. Aricept can also aggravate asthma and other breathing problems Be cautious when using Aricept and report all side effects to your doctor.
Precautions
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines especially pain killers or treatment for arthritis, antibiotics or anti-fungal medicine, muscle relaxants, anti-depressants, anticonvulsants or medication for a heart condition. If you are going to have an operation that requires you to have a general anaesthetic you should tell your doctor and the anaesthetist that you are taking Aricept. Alzheimers disease may impair your ability to drive or operate machinery and you must not perform these activities unless your doctor tells you that it is safe to do so. Also, your medicine can cause fatigue, dizziness and muscle cramp and if affected you must not drive or operate machinery.
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