Aricept,
or generic Aricept - Donepezil, is one of the few drugs that can provide some relief from the symptoms of early Alzheimer's disease. (Cognex, Exelon, and Reminyl are others.) Alzheimer's disease causes physical changes in the brain that disrupt the flow of information and interfere with memory, thinking, and behavior. Aricept can temporarily improve brain function in some Alzheimer's sufferers, although it does not halt the progress of the underlying disease.
Donepezil is an oral medication used to treat Alzheimer's disease. It
belongs to a class of drugs called cholinesterase inhibitors that also
includes tacrine (Cognex). Scientists believe that Alzheimer's disease
may result from a deficiency in chemicals (neurotransmitters) used by
nerves in the brain to communicate with one another. Donepezil inhibits
acetylcholinesterase, an enzyme responsible for the destruction of one
neurotransmitter, acetylcholine. This leads to increased concentrations
of acetylcholine in the brain, and the increased concentrations are
believed to be responsible for the improvement seen during treatment
with donepezil. Donepezil improves the symptoms but does not slow down
the progression of Alzheimer's disease. Donepezil was approved by the
FDA in 1996.
SIDE EFFECTS: The most frequently reported side effects
associated with donepezil include headache, generalized pain, fatigue,
dizziness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss,
muscle cramping, joint pain, insomnia, and increased frequency of
urination.
Tacrine (Cognex), another anticholinesterase medication used in the
treatment of Alzheimer's disease, is associated with liver toxicity.
Donepezil does not appear to be associated with liver toxicity.
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