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Donepezil
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Description
Donepezil is used in the treatment of dementia associated with Alzheimer's disease. It is not recommended in patients with gastrointestinal bleeding and lung diseases.
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Side effects
Major & minor side effects for Donepezil
Diarrhea
Loss of appetite
Nausea and Vomiting
Trouble sleeping
Muscle cramps
Dizziness
Frequent urination
Headache
Weight loss
Unusual bleeding
Join pain
Uses of Donepezil
What is it prescribed for?
Alzheimer's disease
Donepezil is used in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease which is a progressive brain disorder characterized by memory loss and difficulty in thinking.
Concerns
Commonly asked questions
Onset of action
The time taken to reach peak concentration is 3 to 4 hours.Duration of effect
The effect of this medicine lasts for an average duration of 7 to 8 days.Safe with alcohol?
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.Is it habit forming?
No habit forming tendency has been reportedUsage in pregnancy?
This medicine is not recommended for pregnant women unless necessary. The risks and benefits should be discussed with the doctor before taking this medicine.Usage while breast-feeding?
It is not known whether this medicine is excreted in breast milk. It is not recommended in breastfeeding women unless necessary. The risks and benefits should be discussed with the doctor before taking this medicine.
Allergy
Not recommended in patients with known allergy to Donepezil.
Warnings for special population
Pregnancy
This medicine is not recommended for pregnant women unless necessary. The risks and benefits should be discussed with the doctor before taking this medicine.
Breast-feeding
It is not known whether this medicine is excreted in breast milk. It is not recommended in breastfeeding women unless necessary. The risks and benefits should be discussed with the doctor before taking this medicine.
General warnings
Gastrointestinal bleeding
This medicine is known to increase the gastric acid secretion and may increase the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding. Inform the doctor if you have any symptoms of blood in stools and burning stomach. An alternate medicine should be considered based on the clinical condition.
Seizures
This medicine is known to cause generalized convulsions. Any symptoms of seizures should be informed to the doctor.
Pediatric use
The safety and efficacy have not been established in patients younger than 18 years.
Missed Dose
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose. Do not double your dose to make up for the missed dose.
Overdose
Seek emergency medical treatment or contact the doctor in case of an overdose.
All drugs interact differently for person to person. You should check all the possible interactions with your doctor before starting any medicine.
Interaction with Alcohol
Description
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Instructions
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Interaction with Medicine
Carvedilol
Oxcarbazepine
Tramadol
Disease interactions
Bradycardia
This medicine is not recommended in patients with existing heart disease. An alternate medicine should be considered based on the clinical condition.
Lung disease
This medicine is not recommended in patients with lung disorders like asthma or COPD. Inform the doctor if you have any symptoms of breathing difficulty. An alternate medicine should be considered based on the clinical condition
Food interactions
Information not available.
Lab interactions
Information not available.
Take Donepezil at the same time every day. Do not take in larger amounts than advised. Consult the doctor if you experience any undesirable effects. Do not take this medicine if you have any gastrointestinal disease and lung diseases.
Miscelleneous
How it works
It works by increasing the level of acetylcholine and helps in controlling the symptoms of the disease.
Legal Status
Classification
Category
Cholinesterase inhibitors
Schedule
Schedule H
[Internet]. 2017 [cited 22 May 2017]. Available from:
Donepezil: MedlinePlus Drug Information [Internet]. Medlineplus.gov. 2017 [cited 22 May 2017]. Available from:
DailyMed - Donepezil hydrochloride tablet [Internet]. Dailymed.nlm.nih.gov. 2017 [cited 22 May 2017]. Available from:
Prescribing medicines in pregnancy database [Internet]. Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). 2017 [cited 22 May 2017]. Available from:
Information on this page was last updated on 8 Feb 2018
Disclaimer
We’ve made all possible efforts to ensure that the information provided here is accurate, up-to-date and complete, however, it should not be treated as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Practo only provides reference source for common information on medicines and does not guarantee its accuracy or exhaustiveness. The absence of a warning for any drug or combination thereof, should not be assumed to indicate that the drug or combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for any given patient. Practo does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information provided above. If you have any doubts about your medication then we strongly recommend that you consult with your doctor, nurse or healthcare provider. See detailed T&C here.