Aricept: function, dosage, side effects, how to use it

Use

What is aricept used for?

Aricept is a tablet that contains the main ingredient in the form of donepezil, which is included in the Alzheimer's drug class. Aricept is one of its trademarks.

This medicine is included in a prescription drug, so you cannot get this drug over the counter and can only get it by prescription only.

Aricept is primarily used to help improve nerve cell function in the brain by preventing damage to a chemical called acetylcholine.

Generally, people with dementia, or what is commonly known as dementia, have lower amounts of acetylcholine, even though this substance is very important for thinking, remembering, and expressing opinions.

Therefore, aricept is usually used to treat dementia caused by Alzheimer's disease. However, it must be remembered that this drug cannot cure Alzheimer's disease because this condition will continue to develop, even if the patient has used donepezil.

How is aricept used?

The following are things you should know and do when you use aricept, including the following.

• Aricept can cause side effects that can reduce or disturb your concentration. Therefore, it is not recommended for you to do activities that require high concentration such as driving or other activities.
• Use aricept as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all directions for using the medicine that is on the package or given by your doctor. Do not use this medication in doses that are smaller or larger than recommended.
• You are allowed to take aricept even on an empty stomach
• Do not chew, crush, or split the tablet. Swallow this drug in its intact state.
• If you are going to have a surgical procedure, tell your doctor ahead of time that you are taking aricept. Your doctor may advise you to stop using this drug for a while.
• Do not stop using this medication without advice from your doctor.
• Although it can be taken at any time, it is advisable to use this medicine at night before bed.

Some steps that can be taken to use this drug are:

• Never remove this medicine from the container, unless you really want to take this medicine. In addition, when you want to use it, slowly open the container and slowly take the drug from the container. If it is taken forcibly, the medicine is worried it will spoil.
• Use dry hands to remove the tablet from the container and immediately place it in your mouth.
• Don't chew the tablet. Let the tablet dissolve in your mouth without chewing it first.
• Swallow the dissolved drug in the mouth slowly. After that, drink a glass of mineral water.

How to store aricept?

Aricept is best stored at room temperature. Keep it away from direct light exposure and avoid putting it in a damp place. Do not store aricept in the bathroom and do not freeze it in the freezer.

Other brands of this drug may have different storage rules. Observe the storage instructions on the product package or ask your pharmacist. Keep all medicines away from children and pets.

Do not flush medications down the toilet or down the drain unless instructed to do so. Discard this product when it has expired or when it is no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal agency about how to safely dispose of your product so as not to pollute the environment.

Dose

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting treatment.

What is the dose of aricept for adults?

The adult dose for Alzheimer's is low to moderate

The starting dose used for the treatment of Alzheimer's is 5 milligrams (mg) taken by mouth once a day at night before bed. The maximum dose that can be used by people with mild to moderate Alzheimer's is 10 mg per day. However, a dose of 10 mg should not be given to a patient until the patient has taken a daily dose of 5 mg for 4-6 weeks.

Adult dosage for moderate to severe Alzheimer's

The initial dose used for the treatment of moderate to moderately severe Alzheimer's is 5 mg taken by mouth once a day at night before bed. The maximum use of this drug is 23 mg per day. The 10 mg dose should not be used until the patient has routinely used the 5 mg daily dose for 4-6 weeks. Meanwhile, a dose of 23 mg should not be given until the patient is accustomed to a daily dose of 10 mg for at least 3 months of use.

What is the dose of aricept for children?

The dose of this medicine for children has not been determined. Consult your doctor first before using this medicine for children.

In what dosage is aricept available?

film film tablet and ODT (Orally Disintegrating Tablet) 5 mg

Side effects

What side effects can aricept use?

Get professional medical help right away if you have any symptoms of an allergy to aricept, such as:

• itchy skin
• hard to breathe
• swelling of the face, lips, tongue, and throat

The most common side effects are:

• nausea, vomiting, to diarrhea
• loss of appetite
• muscle aches
• sleep disorders, such as insomnia
• easy to feel tired

Stop using aricept if you experience any of the following conditions:

• severe vomiting
• the head feels light and the body feels like to pass out
• heart rate slows down
• when urinating it hurts
• respiratory problems that may not have occurred before
• bleeding in the stomach, usually characterized by abdominal pain, dark-colored stools that bleed, coughing up blood, or vomit that looks like coffee grounds

Serious side effects that may be experienced when using this drug include:

• nausea and vomiting
• lost weight drastically
• seizures
• peptic ulcers or sores in the stomach that make the ulcer painful
• lung disorders
• heart disease

Keep in mind that the doctor prescribes this because the doctor has examined your body and health condition and assesses that the benefits you get from using this medicine will outweigh the risk of side effects.

Not everyone experiences the side effects mentioned above. There may be some side effects not listed above. If you have concerns about certain side effects you feel after using aricept, do not hesitate to consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Precautions & Warnings

What should be known before using Aricept?

Some of the following things you should pay attention to before using aricept, including:

• Tell your doctor if you have heart rhythm problems such as a slow heart rate, or other conditions such as an enlarged prostate, asthma, problems urinating, or epilepsy.
• Tell your doctor if you have an allergy to this medication or the active ingredients in this medicine. Maybe the doctor will suggest the use of other drugs that are more suitable for your condition.
• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.

Is aricept safe for pregnant and lactating women?

There has not been adequate research on the risks of using acarbose in pregnant or breastfeeding women. Always consult your doctor to weigh the potential benefits and risks before using this medication. This drug is included in the risk of pregnancy category C according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The following references the pregnancy risk categories according to the FDA:

A = Not at risk

B = No risk in several studies

C = May be risky

D = There is positive evidence of risk

X = Contraindicated

N = Unknown

Therefore, if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding and want to use this drug, you should first consult with your doctor before deciding to take this drug.

Interaction

What other medicines may interact with aricept?

Drug interactions can change the performance of your medications or increase the risk of serious side effects. Not all possible drug interactions are listed in this article. Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescription / non-prescription drugs and herbal products) and consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Although certain drugs should not be used at the same time, in certain cases, two different drugs can be used together, even if interactions are possible. In this case, your doctor may change the dose, or take other precautions that may be needed.

The following are drugs that can interact with aricept, but when the two do interact, the risks outweigh the benefits. Among others are:

• bupropion
• iohexol
• iopamidol
• metrizamide
• siponimod
• tramadol

Meanwhile, here is a partial list of drugs that can interact with aricept. However, you should avoid interactions between aricept and the drugs below, even though in some conditions, the interactions that occur have a good effect on your health. Among others are:

• abarelix
• acebutolol
• acrivastine
• albuterol
• alectinib
• alfuzosin
• ambenonium
• amifampridine
• belladonna
• benztropine
• bepridil
• betaxolol
• bexarotene
• carteolol
• carvedilol
• ceritinib
• chlorcyclizine
• cimetidine
• darifenacin
• deferasirox
• desipramine
• deutetrabenazine
• edrophonium
• efavirenz
• elagolix
• encorafenib
• enzalutamide
• eribulin
• galantamine
• ginkgo
• goserelin
• grepafloxacin

In addition, there are drugs that can interact with aricept, but the risk of the interaction has little effect on your body. Even so, it is better to always consult with your doctor about all types of medicines you use to avoid unwanted risks.

What foods or alcohol can interact with aricept?

Certain drugs should not be used with meals or when eating certain foods because drug interactions can occur. Consuming alcohol or tobacco with certain drugs can also cause interactions to occur. Discuss your use of drugs with food, alcohol, or tobacco with your health care provider for more details.

What health conditions can interact with aricept?

Various health problems you have may interact with aricept, including the following types of diseases:

• bradycardia, which is a condition in which the heart rate slows down, usually below 60 beats per minute.
• bronchospasm, a condition in which the muscles that line the bronchi tighten or tighten
• coronary heart disease
• Parkinson's disease
• dysfunctional uterine bleeding, in which the uterus has abnormal bleeding both within the menstrual cycle and outside the cycle.
• seizures
• hyperthyroidism

If you have a disease that has been mentioned above but must use aricept, first consult your doctor.

Overdose

What should I do in an emergency?

In case of an emergency or overdose, contact the local emergency services provider (119) or immediately to the nearest hospital emergency department.

Overdose symptoms that may appear:

• continuous nausea
• gag
• saliva from the mouth continuously
• sweating
• blurred vision
• weakened heart rate
• weakened muscles
• seizures
• irregular breath

What should I do if I miss a dose of this medicine?

If you forget or accidentally miss a dose of this medicine, skip it and take the next dose as usual. Do not take excessive doses at one time. If you forget your dose for more than seven days in a row, contact your doctor immediately before taking aricept again.

Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.