Donepezil
About
Donepezil belongs to the group of medicines called 'anti-Alzheimer's drug', primarily indicated in the treatment of dementia of the Alzheimer’s disease. In Alzheimer's disease, the brain cells degenerate and die, which causes a gradual decline in behavioural and social skills and thinking ability (dementia), which affects a person's ability to function independently. The signs include confusion, increasing memory loss, and behavioural changes.
Donepezil contains Donepezil that falls in the category of drugs called acetylcholinesterase inhibitors. This drug increases the levels of a substance (acetylcholine) in the brain, which is involved in improving memory functioning by slowing down the breakdown of acetylcholine (a substance that allows nerves to communicate and important for normal brain functioning).
Take Donepezil as prescribed. Your doctor will recommend you how often you take Donepezil based on your medical condition. A person taking Donepezil may experience some undesirable effects of this medicine like insomnia, diarrhoea, muscle cramps, vomiting, fatigue, weight loss, and nausea. This happens because the body is adjusting to the new medicine. If a person notices severe side effects of medicine like dizziness, constipation, drowsiness, fainting, frequent urination, headache, joint pain, mental depression, and pain, or if side effects do not go within a couple of days, then they need to consult with the doctor immediately.
A person cannot take Donepezil if they are hypersensitive to any of the components present in this medicine. A person facing medical conditions like a heart rhythm disorder, a stomach ulcer, urination problems, asthma or other breathing disorder, seizure, and liver or kidney disease need to tell their doctor before taking this medicine. A woman who is pregnant or breastfeeding needs to tell their doctor before taking this medicine. This medicine should be prescribed with caution in patients having a history of asthma or obstructive pulmonary disease.
Uses of Donepezil
Medicinal Benefits
Donepezil belongs to the category of the acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, prescribed for treating the symptoms of dementia in persons having mild and moderately severe Alzheimer's disease. Donepezil works by helping the nerve cells communicate with each other by increasing acetylcholine levels in the brain. It stops the breakdown of acetylcholine in the brain, which is an important substance that is responsible for nerve communication. By doing so it helps a person to live a normal life.
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Donepezil
- Diarrhoea
- Loss of appetite
- Muscle cramps
- Nausea
- Trouble in sleeping
- Unusual tiredness
- Weakness
- Vomiting
In-Depth Precautions and Warning
Drug Warnings
A person should tell their doctor if they are taking any prescription or herbal medicine as certain medicines may weaken or strengthen the effects of Donepezil. A person should avoid the consumption of alcohol as it may reduce the effects of medication. A woman who is pregnant or breast-feeding should ask their doctor for advice before taking this medicine. Alzheimer’s disease may affect the ability to drive so a person must not perform any activity that needs mental alertness unless your doctor tells you that it is safe to do so.
Drug Interactions
Drug-drug Interactions: Some medications may change the working action of Donepezil so tell your doctor about every prescription/nonprescription drugs and herbal products you are using. The possible drugs that can interact with Donepezil include NSAIDs (such as ibuprofen, naproxen), antihistamine (Diphenhydramine), anticoagulant medication (apixaban), anticholinergics medicines, (tolterodine), and anti-depressants (fluoxetine).
Drug- Food Interactions: Food will not influence the effect of Donepezil, but a person should not be taken with alcohol because alcohol may reduce its effect.
Drug-Disease Interactions: A person should tell their doctor if they are dealing with a heart rhythm disorder, a stomach ulcer, urination problems, asthma or other breathing disorder, liver or kidney disease, and a seizure.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
unsafeYou are recommended to avoid alcohol consumption while taking Donepezil. Alcohol intake, along with Donepezil, can worsen the symptoms of dementia.
Pregnancy
cautionDonepezil can only be used in pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the unborn baby.
Breast Feeding
cautionIt is not known if Donepezil passes into breast milk or not. Breast-feeding women should ask their doctor before using this medication.
Driving
cautionDonepezil can cause an undesirable reaction in the body that can impair a person's thinking ability. One should avoid driving and do activities that require mental alertness.
Liver
cautionTake Donepezil only after the doctor's prescription, especially if you are dealing with Liver diseases/conditions as your doctor may adjust the dose as required.
Kidney
cautionTake Donepezil after the recommendation of a doctor, especially if you have a history of Kidney diseases/conditions. The dosing strength needs to be adjusted by your doctor as required.
Children
unsafeDonepezil has not been approved to use in children.
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.
- Do physical exercises that are safe for Alzheimer/ dementia patients.
Special Advise
Certain Cognitive and neuropsychological tests are done to diagnose dementia.
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. Persons 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
No, you should not drive after taking Donepezil as Alzheimer’s disease already affects a person's ability to drive or operate machinery Also, this medicine causes in the body, so a person should perform these activities unless their doctor prescribes them to do so.
Apart from consuming less alcohol a person can eat and drink normally while taking this medicine.
Donepezil works by helping the nerve cells to communicate with each other by increasing the levels of acetylcholine in the brain. It stops the breakdown of acetylcholine in the brain which is an important substance that is responsible for nerve communication. By doing so it helps a person to cope up with dementia and to live a normal life.
Donepezil is not recommended for use in children and adolescents.
No, a person taking antibiotics (Rifampicin) is not allowed to take this medicine as it may cause serious drug interaction in the body and may weaken the effects of the medicine.
If a woman is pregnant or breast-feeding, then they need to ask with their doctor before taking this medicine. While Donepezil is not allowed to use in breastfeeding females.
Donepezil consists of lactose so if you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicinal product.
You should immediately report to the doctor as an overdose of this medicine may make you sick, cause drooling, sweating, slow heart rate, low blood pressure, etc.
You should not stop taking the medicine unless told suggested by your doctor as it may make the benefits of your treatment will gradually fade away.
