Donepezil
About Donepezil
Donepezil is used to treat the symptoms of dementia in people with mild and moderately severe Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer’s disease is a brain condition that slowly damages memory, thinking, learning, and organizing skills. It is the most common cause of dementia, mainly affecting older adults. As the disease progresses, it leads to significant cognitive decline and changes in behaviour and personality.
Donepezil contains Donepezil, which works by increasing the levels of a substance (acetylcholine) in the brain involved in memory function by slowing down the breakdown of acetylcholine. Thereby, it helps treat symptoms of dementia in patients with Alzheimer's disease.
The dose and duration of treatment with Donepezil can be determined by the doctor based on your medical condition. In some cases, Donepezil may cause side effects such as diarrhoea, nausea, headache, muscle cramps and tiredness. Most of these side effects do not require medical attention and resolve gradually over time. However, if the side effects persist or worsen, consult the doctor.
Do not take Donepezil if you are allergic to Donepezil or any of its components. Inform the doctor if you have a heart rhythm disorder, a stomach ulcer, urination problems, asthma or other breathing disorders, seizures or liver disease before taking Donepezil. Consult the doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding before taking Donepezil. Also, keep the doctor informed about your health condition and any medications you are taking to rule out any potential side effects or interactions. Donepezil should be used for children only if prescribed by the doctor.
Uses of Donepezil
• Treatment of dementia symptoms in alzheimer's disease: Donepezil is prescribed to improve memory, awareness, and the ability to perform daily functions in individuals with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. It works by enhancing communication between nerve cells in the brain.
Medicinal Benefits
Donepezil belongs to the group of medicines called acetylcholinesterase inhibitors used to treat the symptoms of dementia in people with mild and moderately severe Alzheimer's disease. Donepezil contains Donepezil, which works by increasing the levels of a substance (acetylcholine) in the brain involved in memory function by slowing down the breakdown of acetylcholine. Thereby, it helps treat symptoms of dementia in patients with Alzheimer's disease.
Directions for Use
- Donepezil can be taken with or without food, as advised by your doctor.
- Follow your doctor's instructions on the dosage and timing of this medication to ensure safety.
- Swallow Donepezil as a whole with a glass of water.
- Do not crush, chew or break it.
Storage
Side Effects of Donepezil
- Diarrhoea
- Loss of appetite
- Muscle cramps
- Nausea
- Trouble sleeping
- Unusual tiredness
- Weakness
- Vomiting
Drug Warnings
Do not take Donepezil if you are allergic to Donepezil or any of its components. Inform the doctor if you have liver or kidney disease, stomach or duodenal ulcer, seizure or convulsions, heart problems, low levels of potassium or magnesium, lung disease, or extrapyramidal symptoms. Consult the doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Keep the doctor informed about your health condition and medications to rule out any side effects/interactions.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interactions: Donepezil may cause interactions with opioid analgesics (tramadol), immunomodulators (ponesimod, siponimod), and alkaloid vasodilators (papaverine).
Drug-Food Interactions: No interactions have been found or established.
Drug-Disease Interactions: Inform the doctor if you have bradycardia (slow heart rate), bronchospasm (narrowing of airways), coronary artery disease, parkinsonism (Parkinson-like symptoms), hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid), peptic ulcer disease (PUD), seizures, and hepatic dysfunction (liver impairment) as these conditions may cause interactions.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
cautionIt is advised to avoid alcohol consumption while taking Donepezil, as alcohol can worsen dementia symptoms and reduce the effectiveness of the medication.
Pregnancy
cautionPlease consult the doctor if you are pregnant before taking Donepezil. The doctor may prescribe this medication only if the benefits outweigh the risks.
Breast Feeding
cautionIt is unknown whether Donepezil passes into breast milk. Therefore, please consult the doctor if you are breastfeeding before taking Donepezil.
Driving
cautionDonepezil may cause dizziness. Therefore, avoid driving or operate heavy machinery until you are fully alert.
Liver
cautionIf you have any concerns regarding the use of Donepezil in patients with liver problems, please consult a doctor.
Kidney
cautionIf you have any concerns about using Donepezil in patients with kidney problems, please consult a doctor.
Children
cautionDonepezil should be used for children only if prescribed by the doctor. Please consult the doctor before using Donepezil to your child.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- A person dealing with Alzheimer's disease needs to take proper nutrition to make their body strong and healthy. For a patient dealing with dementia, poor nutrition can affect behavioral symptoms and may cause weight loss.
- Consume more whole grains, low-fat dairy products, vegetables, fruits, and lean protein foods, and cut down high saturated fat, refined sugars, and cholesterol from your diet.
- Patients dealing with dementia should do meditation activities that help calm down their minds and make medicine work more efficiently.
- Engage in physical exercises like walking, stretching or yoga to enhance mood.
- Interacting regularly with friends or family can improve mood and mental function.
- Engage in reading books, puzzles, learning new skills or memory games to stay mentally active.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Alzheimer's disease: It is a chronic progressive disease in which the brain cells degenerate and die and is the most common cause of dementia. Dementia affects a person's ability to function independently and affects a person's thinking, judgment, behaviour, and memory. People dealing with this disease face symptoms like memory loss that affects daily activities, difficulty in doing familiar tasks and problem-solving, trouble in speech or writing, decreased judgment /personal hygiene, and personality changes.
FAQs
Donepezil belongs to the group of medicines called acetylcholinesterase inhibitors. It is used to treat the symptoms of dementia in people with mild and moderately severe Alzheimer's disease.
Donepezil belongs to the group of medicines called acetylcholinesterase inhibitors. It works by increasing the levels of a substance (acetylcholine) in the brain involved in memory function by slowing down the breakdown of acetylcholine.
Do not stop taking Donepezil unless told to do so by your doctor. If you stop taking Donepezil, the benefits of your treatment will gradually fade away.
Donepezil may cause side effects such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, loss of appetite, muscle cramps, weakness and unusual tiredness. If these side effects persist or worsen, please consult your doctor.
Donepezil results in bone weakness and can increase the risk of fractures in elderly patients if taken in high doses for an extended period of time.
Donepezil may cause diarrhoea as a common side effect but sometimes can be serious. Donepezil reduces the levels of gastric acid and can increase the bacterial count in the gut and can lead to infections. Thus, if you have persistent diarrhoea, consult your doctor immediately.
The long term use of the Donepezil results in liver function disturbances, changes in electrolyte (magnesium, calcium and sodium) levels and B12 deficiency. Therefore, if you experience symptoms such as loss of appetite, yellow skin and eyes, nausea, dizziness, itching, fits, headache, tiredness, irritability, or pale skin, consult your doctor immediately. As you have been prescribed Donepezil for a long duration, your doctor may recommend regular follow-ups and blood tests.
Yes, you can Donepezil on an empty stomach or with food or as advised by your doctor. But take it at the same time every day for best results.
