Donepezil prescription

Donepezil

Generic Name: donepezil (oral) (doe NEH peh zil)
Brand Names: Aricept

What is the most important information I should know about donepezil?

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Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous activities. Donepezil may cause dizziness or drowsiness. If you experience dizziness or drowsiness, avoid these activities.

What is donepezil?

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Donepezil is used to treat Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's disease is associated with low levels of a chemical called acetylcholine (ah see til KOH leen) in your brain. The exact way that donepezil works is unknown. However, it is believed that donepezil prevents the breakdown of acetylcholine in your brain.

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Donepezil is used to improve thinking and memory in patients with Alzheimer's disease.

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Donepezil may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

Who should not take donepezil?

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Before taking donepezil, tell your doctor if you

have kidney disease, including difficulty urinating;

have liver disease;

have heart disease such as a slow or irregular heartbeat;

have a history of stomach ulcers;

take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, Nuprin, others), indomethacin (Indocin), nabumetone (Relafen), oxaprozin (Daypro), naproxen (Naprosyn, Anaprox, Aleve), ketorolac (Orudis, Orudis KT, Oruvail), and others, on a regular basis;

have seizures or a history of seizures;

have lung problems such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); or

need to have surgery.

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You may require a lower dose or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.

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Donepezil is in the FDA pregnancy category C. This means that it is not known whether donepezil will harm an unborn baby. Do not take donepezil without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant.

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It is also not known whether donepezil will harm a nursing infant. Do not take donepezil without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I take donepezil?

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Take donepezil exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.

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Take each dose with a full glass of water.

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Donepezil can be taken with or without food or milk.

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Donepezil is usually taken once a day, at bedtime. Follow your doctor's directions.

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Store donepezil at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

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Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next regularly scheduled dose, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take a double dose of this medication unless otherwise directed by your doctor.

What happens if I overdose?

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Seek emergency medical attention.

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Symptoms of a donepezil overdose include severe nausea, vomiting, watering mouth, sweating, slow heartbeat, slow breathing, prolonged or severe dizziness, fainting, blurred vision, seizures, and collapse.

What should I avoid while taking donepezil?

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What are the possible side effects of donepezil?

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Stop taking donepezil and seek emergency medical attention if you experience an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives).

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Other, less serious side effects may also occur. Continue to take donepezil and talk to your doctor if you experience

drowsiness or dizziness;

nausea, vomiting, or decreased appetite;

abdominal pain or diarrhea;

muscle cramps;

insomnia or vivid dreams; or

dry mouth.

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Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What other drugs will affect donepezil?

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Before taking donepezil, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:

ketoconazole (Nizoral), fluconazole (Diflucan), or itraconazole (Sporanox);

quinidine (Cardioquin, Quinidex, Quinaglute, others);

phenytoin (Dilantin);

carbamazepine (Tegretol);

dexamethasone (Decadron), methylprednisolone (Medrol), prednisone (Deltasone, others), prednisolone (Prelone, Pediapred, others), or another steroid;

rifampin (Rifadin, Rifamate, Rifater) or rifabutin (Mycobutin), or

phenobarbital (Luminal, Solfoton), pentobarbital (Nembutal), secobarbital (Seconal), or mephobarbital (Mebaral).

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You may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you are taking any of the medicines listed above.

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Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with donepezil. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines.

Where can I get more information?

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Your pharmacist has more information about donepezil written for health professionals that you may read.

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Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

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Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/ or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

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