Patient Leaflet Updated 05-Jun-2023 | Eisai Ltd
Aricept Tablets
ARICEPT 5 mg Film Coated Tablets
ARICEPT 10 mg Film Coated Tablets
Donepezil Hydrochloride
1. What ARICEPT is and what it is used for
2. What you need to know before you take ARICEPT
3. How to take ARICEPT
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store ARICEPT
6. Contents of the pack and other information
ARICEPT contains the active substance donepezil hydrochloride. ARICEPT (donepezil hydrochloride) belongs to a group of medicines called acetylcholinesterase inhibitors.
Donepezil increases the levels of a substance (acetylcholine) in the brain involved in memory function by slowing down the breakdown of acetylcholine.
It is used to treat the symptoms of dementia in people diagnosed as having mild and moderately severe Alzheimer’s disease. The symptoms include increasing memory loss, confusion and behavioural changes. As a result, sufferers of Alzheimer’s disease find it more and more difficult to carry out their normal daily activities.
ARICEPT is for use in adult patients only.
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking ARICEPT if you have or have had:
Also tell your doctor if you are pregnant or think you might be pregnant.
ARICEPT is not recommended for use in children and adolescents (younger than 18 years of age).
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines. This includes medicines that your doctor has not prescribed for you but which you have bought yourself from a chemist/pharmacist. It also applies to medicines you may take some time in the future if you continue to take ARICEPT. This is because these medicines may weaken or strengthen the effects of ARICEPT.
In particular it is important to tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following types of medicines:
If you are going to have an operation that requires you to have a general anaesthetic, you should tell your doctor and the anaesthetist that you are taking ARICEPT. This is because your medicine may affect the amount of anaesthetic needed.
ARICEPT can be used in patients with kidney disease or mild to moderate liver disease. Tell your doctor first if you have kidney or liver disease. Patients with severe liver disease should not take ARICEPT.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist the name of your caregiver. Your caregiver will help you to take your medicine as it is prescribed.
Food will not influence the effect of ARICEPT.
ARICEPT should not be taken with alcohol because alcohol may change its effect.
If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking any medicine.
ARICEPT should not be used while breast-feeding.
Alzheimer’s disease may impair your ability to drive or operate machinery and you must not perform these activities unless your doctor tells you that it is safe to do so.
Also, your medicine can cause tiredness, dizziness and muscle cramp. If you experience any of these effects you must not drive or operate machinery.
If you have been told by your doctor that you have intolerance to some sugars, you should contact your doctor before taking ARICEPT.
Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure. Initially, the recommended dose is 5 mg (one white tablet) every night before you go to bed. After one month, your doctor may tell you to take 10 mg (one yellow tablet) every night before you go to bed.
If you experience abnormal dreams, nightmares or difficulty in sleeping (see section 4) your doctor may advise you to take ARICEPT in the morning.
The tablet strength you will take may change depending on the length of time you have been taking the medicine and on what your doctor recommends. The maximum recommended dose is 10 mg each night.
Always follow your doctor or pharmacist’s advice about how and when to take your medicine. Do not alter the dose yourself without your doctor’s advice.
Swallow your ARICEPT tablet with a drink of water before you go to bed at night.
ARICEPT is not recommended for use in children and adolescents (younger than 18 years of age).
Contact your doctor or the nearest hospital emergency department immediately if you take more of the medicine than you should. Take this leaflet and any remaining tablets with you.
Overdose symptoms may include nausea (feeling sick) and vomiting (being sick), drooling, sweating, slow heart rate, low blood pressure (light-headedness or dizziness when standing), breathing problems, losing consciousness and seizures (fits) or convulsions.
If you forget to take your medicine, take the next dose at the usual time. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten tablet.
If you forget to take your medicine for more than one week, call your doctor before taking any more medicine.
Do not stop taking the tablets unless told to do so by your doctor. If you stop taking ARICEPT, the benefits of your treatment will gradually fade away.
If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Your doctor or pharmacist will advise you on how long you should continue to take your tablets. You will need to see your doctor from time to time to review your treatment and assess your symptoms.
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
The following side effects have been reported by people taking ARICEPT.
Tell your doctor if you have any of these effects while you are taking ARICEPT.
You must tell your doctor immediately if you notice these serious side effects mentioned. You may need urgent medical treatment.
Very common side effects (may affect more than 1 in 10 people):
Common side effects (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):
Uncommon side effects (may affect up to 1 in 100 people):
Rare side effects (may affect up to 1 in 1000 people):
Not known (frequency cannot be estimated from the available data)
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store.
By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the outer carton and blister or bottle (EXP). The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
Do not store this medicine above 30°C.
Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines you no longer use. These measures will help to protect the environment.
ARICEPT is available in packs of:
Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
Marketing Authorisation Holder:
Manufacturer:
This leaflet was last revised in 02/2023.
ARIC/0014/2023
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