Donepezil oral solution

What are donepezil oral solution?

DONEPEZIL (Aricept®) helps treat the symptoms associated with Alzheimer's disease or dementia. It is not a cure for Alzheimer's disease but offers improvement in memory, attention, reason, language, and the ability to perform simple tasks. Benefits are usually greater for mild to moderate symptoms seen in the early stages of the disease. Generic donepezil oral solution is not yet available.

What should my health care professional know before I take donepezil?

They need to know if you have any of these conditions:

• asthma or other lung disease

• difficulty passing urine

• head injury

• heart disease, slow heartbeat

• liver disease

• low blood pressure

• Parkinson's disease

• seizures (convulsions)

• severe headaches

• stomach or intestinal disease, ulcers or stomach bleeding

• an unusual or allergic reaction to donepezil, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives

• pregnant or trying to get pregnant

• breast-feeding

How should I take this medicine?

Take donepezil oral solution by mouth. Follow the directions on the prescription label. Use a specially marked spoon or container to measure your dose. Ask your pharmacist if you do not have one; household spoons are not always accurate. You may take donepezil with or without food. Take your doses at regular intervals; donepezil is usually taken before bedtime. Do not take your medicine more often than directed. Continue to take your medicine even if you feel better. Do not stop taking except on your prescriber's advice.

Contact your pediatrician or health care professional regarding the use of this medicine in children. Special care may be needed.

What if I miss a dose?

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, take only that dose, do not take double or extra doses.

What drug(s) may interact with donepezil?

• some antibiotics (such as erythromycin and clarithromycin)

• some antidepressants (examples: fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, sertraline)

• some drugs for treating diabetes (pioglitazone, troglitazone)

• atropine

• benztropine

• bosentan

• carbamazepine

• dexamethasone

• dicyclomine

• digoxin

• galantamine

• glycopyrrolate

• hyoscyamine

• ipratropium

• itraconazole or ketoconazole

• medications for motion sickness (examples: dimenhydrinate, meclizine, scopolamine)

• medicines for treating HIV infection or AIDS

• medicines that relax your muscles for surgery

• modafinil

• non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen)

• oxybutynin

• phenytoin

• phenobarbital

• propantheline

• quinidine

• rifampin, rifabutin or rifapentine

• rivastigmine

• St. John's wort

• tacrine

• trihexyphenidyl

Tell your prescriber or health care professional about all other medicines you are taking, including non-prescription medicines, nutritional supplements, or herbal products. Also tell your prescriber or health care professional if you are a frequent user of drinks with caffeine or alcohol, if you smoke, or if you use illegal drugs. These may affect the way your medicine works. Check with your health care professional before stopping or starting any of your medicines.

What should I watch for while taking donepezil?

Visit your prescriber or health care professional for regular checks on your progress. Check with your prescriber or health care professional if there is no improvement in your symptoms or if they get worse.

You may get dizzy or feel faint. Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that needs mental alertness until you know how donepezil affects you.

If you are going to have surgery tell your prescriber or health care professional that you are taking donepezil.

What side effects may I notice from taking donepezil?

Side effects that you should report to your prescriber or health care professional as soon as possible:

• changes in vision or balance

• diarrhea, if it is severe or does not stop

• dizziness, fainting spells, or falls

• increase in frequency of passing urine, or incontinence

• nervousness, agitation, or increased confusion

• skin rash or hives

• slow heartbeat, or palpitations

• stomach pain

• sweating

• uncontrollable movements

• unusual bleeding or bruising, red or purple spots on the skin

• vomiting

• weight loss

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your prescriber or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):

• mild diarrhea, especially when starting treatment

• drowsiness

• headache

• indigestion or heartburn

• loss of appetite

• nausea

• joint pain

• muscle cramping

Where can I keep my medicine?

Keep out of reach of children in a container that small children cannot open.

Store at room temperature between 15 degrees and 30 degrees C (59 degrees and 86 degrees F). Throw away any unused medicine after the expiration date.

Donepezil tablets

What are donepezil tablets?

DONEPEZIL (Aricept®, Aricept® ODT) helps treat the symptoms associated with Alzheimer's disease or dementia. It is not a cure for Alzheimer's disease but offers improvement in memory, attention, reason, language, and the ability to perform simple tasks. Benefits are usually greater for mild to moderate symptoms seen in the early stages of the disease. Generic donepezil tablets or orally-disintegrating tablets are not yet available.

What should my health care professional know before I take donepezil?

They need to know if you have any of these conditions:

• asthma or other lung disease

• difficulty passing urine

• head injury

• heart disease, slow heartbeat

• liver disease

• low blood pressure

• Parkinson's disease

• seizures (convulsions)

• severe headaches

• stomach or intestinal disease, ulcers or stomach bleeding

• an unusual or allergic reaction to donepezil, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives

• pregnant or trying to get pregnant

• breast-feeding

How should I take this medicine?

Take donepezil tablets by mouth, refer to the directions below that match the type of tablets you were prescribed. Follow the directions on the prescription label. You may take donepezil with or without food. Take your doses at regular intervals; donepezil is usually taken before bedtime. Do not take your medicine more often than directed. Continue to take your medicine even if you feel better. Do not stop taking except on your prescriber's advice.

Aricept® tablets: Take tablets by mouth. Swallow the tablets with a sip of water or other fluid.

Aricept® ODT tablets: These tablets are made to dissolve in the mouth without having to take them with water. Place the tablet in the mouth and allow it to dissolve, then swallow. While you may take these tablets with water, it is not necessary to do so.

Contact your health care professional regarding the use of this medicine in children. Special care may be needed.

What if I miss a dose?

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, take only that dose, do not take double or extra doses.

What drug(s) may interact with donepezil?

• some antibiotics (such as erythromycin and clarithromycin)

• some antidepressants (examples: fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, sertraline)

• some drugs for treating diabetes (pioglitazone, troglitazone)

• atropine

• benztropine

• bosentan

• carbamazepine

• dexamethasone

• dicyclomine

• digoxin

• galantamine

• glycopyrrolate

• hyoscyamine

• ipratropium

• itraconazole or ketoconazole

• medications for motion sickness (examples: dimenhydrinate, meclizine, scopolamine)

• medicines for treating HIV infection or AIDS

• medicines that relax your muscles for surgery

• modafinil

• non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen)

• oxybutynin

• phenytoin

• phenobarbital

• propantheline

• quinidine

• rifampin, rifabutin or rifapentine

• rivastigmine

• St. John's wort

• tacrine

• trihexyphenidyl

Tell your prescriber or health care professional about all other medicines you are taking, including non-prescription medicines, nutritional supplements, or herbal products. Also tell your prescriber or health care professional if you are a frequent user of drinks with caffeine or alcohol, if you smoke, or if you use illegal drugs. These may affect the way your medicine works. Check with your health care professional before stopping or starting any of your medicines.

What should I watch for while taking donepezil?

Visit your prescriber or health care professional for regular checks on your progress. Check with your prescriber or health care professional if there is no improvement in your symptoms or if they get worse.

You may get dizzy or feel faint. Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that needs mental alertness until you know how donepezil affects you.

If you are going to have surgery tell your prescriber or health care professional that you are taking donepezil.

What side effects may I notice from taking donepezil?

Side effects that you should report to your prescriber or health care professional as soon as possible:

• changes in vision or balance

• diarrhea, if it is severe or does not stop

• dizziness, fainting spells, or falls

• increase in frequency of passing urine, or incontinence

• nervousness, agitation, or increased confusion

• skin rash or hives

• slow heartbeat, or palpitations

• stomach pain

• sweating

• uncontrollable movements

• unusual bleeding or bruising, red or purple spots on the skin

• vomiting

• weight loss

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your prescriber or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):

• mild diarrhea, especially when starting treatment

• drowsiness

• headache

• indigestion or heartburn

• loss of appetite

• nausea

• joint pain

• muscle cramping

Where can I keep my medicine?

Keep out of reach of children in a container that small children cannot open.

Store at room temperature between 15 degrees and 30 degrees C (59 degrees and 86 degrees F). Throw away any unused medicine after the expiration date.