Donepezil 

Overview

A cognitive-enhancing drug called Donepezil is used to treat mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s disease dementia. Cognitive and memory decline in Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia, could be connected to cholinergic neuron degeneration. Donepezil blocks the enzyme cholinesterase, which breaks down the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. As a result, the amount of acetylcholine in the brain rises, enhancing memory and cognitive performance as well as the functionality of undamaged cholinergic neurons.

Information about Dosing

Donepezil is prescribed at a beginning dose of 5 mg once day. The patient needs to take 5 mg daily for 4-6 weeks prior to 10 milligrams per day is the new dose. Four to six weeks of trial treatment gives the patient enough time to become used to the drug and avoids many of the common adverse effects that come with greater dosages. 

Donepezil has to be consumed just before nightfall, to be precise. The daily intake shouldn’t be more than 10 mg. Donepezil dissolving when taken orally so there is no need to adjust the dose when using tablets or solution in place of the tablets.

Typical Side Effects

The most typical adverse effects of Donepezil are lethargy, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and sleeplessness, weight loss, appetite loss, and cramping in the muscles. At the 10 mg dose, these symptoms are more common, but when treatment is maintained, the majority of the time, the side effects are modest and temporary, disappearing within one to three weeks.
Donepezil may make you feel sleepy and dizzy, particularly when you first start treatment.

Adverse Events and Safety Measures

Patients using Donepezil should disclose this information to their surgeon before any surgery, since it may interact with any anesthetic that relaxes the muscles that they could be given.

Donepezil may cause heart rate to slow down. Patients on medication for cardiac conduction issues, those with a history of dizziness linked to slow heart rate (bradycardia), and Donepezil users need to be constantly monitored for cardiac issues.

Seizures may occur with Donepezil in those who are vulnerable, although this side effect is quite uncommon. Still, Alzheimer’s disease may sometimes show symptoms in the form of seizures.

Individuals who have had asthma attacks or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease should be constantly watched. when using Aricept. Donepezil could make several lung conditions worse.

Donepezil may cause the production of more stomach acid. Individuals who have had ulcers in the past or who are taking non- NSAIDs (steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines), such naproxen or ibuprofen, should be constantly watched for indicators of bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract.

Potential Interactions with Drugs

Donepezil and few notable medication interactions are known to occur. The medication interactions that are clinically significant the following below lists the reports that were submitted using Aricept.

• Alcohol consumption should be avoided by patients on Donepezil since it may worsen sedation and fatigue. Additionally, alcohol’s sedative properties may have a depressive impact, masking its therapeutic benefits of Donepezil and making therapy more difficult.
• Agents that are anticholinergic (e.g., Cogentin) Donepezil and anticholinergic medications, when used in combination, may behave in opposition to one another’s 
  diminishing their potency.  
• NSAIDs, or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications, (For example, naproxen, ibuprofen, and aspirin) Given that NSAIDs are linked to an increased risk of stomach ulcers, and Donepezil may cause reduce stomach acid production, this combo could make gastrointestinal bleeding more likely.  
• Diflucan (fluconazole) with Nizoral (ketoconazole) These antifungal medications could prevent Donepezil from  metabolism, raise its levels in the blood, and pharmacological effects that might result in negative consequences.  

overindulgence

A cholinergic crisis brought on by elevated acetylcholine levels may occur after an overdose of Aricept. Severe nausea, vomiting, salivation, a slowed heartbeat, perspiration, low blood sugar, and low blood pressure, seizures, respiratory depression, and weakening of the muscles. Donepezil overdose may be fatal.

Treating any suspected overdose as an emergency is imperative. The individual has to be brought to the emergency space for care and observation. It is advisable to bring the prescription bottle of medicine (as well as any additional medication that may have been taken in excess) since the information on the label may be useful in helping the treating physician figure out how many tablets the patient has taken.

Particular Points to Remember

• Take the missed dosage as soon as you remember. Ignore the missed dosage if the next scheduled dose is approaching and go on with your usual dosage regimen. Avoid taking two doses at once.
• You may take Donepezil with or without meals.
• Taking the prescription just before bed is the ideal time to do so.
• Prolonged diarrhea and vomiting may lead to electrolyte loss and dehydration, which can be hazardous, particularly for elderly people. Notify your doctor if you have chronic diarrhea or vomiting for longer than a day.
• Donepezil may make you feel lightheaded and sleepy, particularly when you first start treatment, and it may also make you attentive. When driving or doing other duties that call for attentiveness, proceed with care.
• Keep the medicine out of direct sunlight and dampness, in the light-resistant container that came with it. Warmth and moisture may hasten the disintegration of your drug, causing it to lose its medicinal consequences.
• Make sure kids can’t get to your medicine.