Donepezil
The following information is an educational aid only. It is not
intended as a medical advice for individual conditions or
treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before
following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and
effective for you.
(don EH pa zil)
Aricept®; Aricept® ODT
Aricept®; Aricept® RDT
Eranz
Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitor (Central)
• If you have an allergy to donepezil or any other part of this medicine.
• Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat; or any other symptoms involved.
• If you are breast-feeding.
• This medicine is used to treat Alzheimer's disease.
• Donepezil increases the amount of a chemical called acetylcholine in the brain. Acetylcholine may be involved in memory, attention, and learning.
• Take this medicine at bedtime.
• Take this medicine with or without food. Take with food if it causes an upset stomach.
• Drink plenty of noncaffeine-containing liquid unless told to drink less liquid by healthcare provider.
• Oral disintegrating tablet: Place on tongue and let dissolve. Do not swallow whole.
• Take a missed dose as soon as possible.
• If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and return to your regular schedule.
• Do not take a double dose or extra doses.
• Do not change dose or stop medicine. Talk with healthcare provider.
• If you have lung disease, talk with healthcare provider.
• If you have seizures, talk with healthcare provider.
• If you have a slow heartbeat, talk with healthcare provider.
• If you have had an ulcer or bleeding from your stomach or intestines, talk with healthcare provider.
• If you have urinary tract blockage, talk with healthcare provider.
• Check medicines with healthcare provider. This medicine may not mix well with other medicines.
• Avoid alcohol (includes wine, beer, and liquor).
• Tell healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan on getting pregnant.
• Feeling dizzy. Rise slowly over several minutes from sitting or lying position. Be careful climbing.
• Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals, frequent mouth care, sucking hard, sugar-free candy, or chewing sugar-free gum may help.
• Diarrhea.
• Headache.
• Inability to sleep.
• Not hungry.
• Change in condition being treated. Is it better, worse, or about the same?
• Follow up with healthcare provider.
• If you suspect an overdose, call your local poison control center or emergency department immediately.
• Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing; chest tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits; or swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Signs or symptoms of depression, suicidal thoughts, nervousness, emotional ups and downs, abnormal thinking, anxiety, or lack of interest in life.
• Difficulty breathing.
• Severe dizziness or passing out.
• Severe nausea or vomiting.
• Severe diarrhea.
• Unusual bruising or bleeding.
• Any rash.
• No improvement in condition or feeling worse.
• Store at room temperature.
• Protect from moisture. Do not store in a bathroom or kitchen.
• If you have a life-threatening allergy, wear allergy identification at all times.
• Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's medicine.
• Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
• Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, natural products, supplements, vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider (doctor, nurse, nurse practitioner, pharmacist, physician assistant).
• Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or in Canada to Health Canada's Canada Vigilance Program at 1-866-234-2345.
• Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine, including over-the-counter, natural products, or vitamins.
Created: 2006-10-13 12:06:19.0
Modified: 2009-01-08 13:59:56.0
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