What is donepezil taken for?

Donepezil is a medicine that helps with some types of dementia. It does not cure dementia. However, it treats some of the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease or dementia with Lewy bodies. It can also help with “mixed dementia”.

What’s the side effects of donepezil?

Donepezil may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• nausea.
• vomiting.
• diarrhea.
• loss of appetite.
• weight loss.
• frequent urination.
• difficulty controlling urination.
• muscle cramps.

How does donepezil help dementia?

Donepezil, rivastigmine and galantamine all prevent an enzyme called acetylcholinesterase from breaking down acetylcholine. This means there is a higher concentration of acetylcholine in the brain, which leads to better communication between nerve cells. This may ease some symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease for a while.

Can donepezil cause heart problems?

Donepezil alone can therefore cause bradycardia, heart block and syncope and this is a possibility in all three case reports1,3.

Can donepezil increase blood pressure?

Donepezil affects parasympathetic innervation of the myocardium. The main effect is suppression of atrioventricular node conduction. Beta-adrenergic blocking agents, such as metoprolol, block catecholamine-induced increases in heart rate, myocardial contractility and blood pressure2.

What does donepezil used for?

Some people may wonder, “What is donepezil used for?”. Donepezil is used for the treatment of symptoms caused by Alzheimer’s dementia. While the medicine does not cure or slow the progression of the disease, it can be used to help improve memory, attention, reason, language, and the ability to perform simple daily tasks.

What does the name donepezil mean?

Donepezil (Aricept) is a medication prescribed for the treatment of mild, moderate, or severe dementia associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Side effects, drug interactions, warnings and precautions, and pregnancy information should be reviewed prior to taking any medication.

Is donepezil an antipsychotic?

Anafranil (clomipramine) – a tricyclic antidepressant; mostly used for obsessive compulsive disorder. Aricept (donepezil) – used to slow the progression of dementia. aripiprazole (Abilify, Aristada ) – an antipsychotic used to treat schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and agitation.