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Indications ⬇

REMS

Contraind./Precautions ⬆ ⬇

Contraindicated in:

Use Cautiously in:

Adv. Reactions/Side Effects ⬆ ⬇

CV: atrial fibrillation, hypertension, hypotension, vasodilation

Endo: hot flashes

GI: diarrhea, nausea, anorexia, vomiting

GU: frequent urination

Metab: weight loss

MS: arthritis, muscle cramps

Neuro: headache, abnormal dreams, depression, dizziness, drowsiness, fatigue, insomnia, syncope

Interactions ⬆ ⬇

Drug-drug:

Drug-Natural Products:

Availability ⬆ ⬇

(Generic available)

Route/Dosage ⬆ ⬇

Mild to Moderate Alzheimer Disease

Severe Alzheimer Disease

US Brand Names ⬆ ⬇

Aricept, Aricept ODT

Action ⬆ ⬇

  • Inhibits acetylcholinesterase, thus improving cholinergic function by making more acetylcholine available.
Therapeutic effects:
  • May temporarily lessen some of the dementia associated with Alzheimer disease.
  • Enhances cognition.
  • Does not cure the disease.

Classifications ⬆ ⬇

Therapeutic Classification: anti-Alzheimers's agents

Pharmacologic Classification: cholinergics (cholinesterase inhibitors)

Pharmacokinetics ⬆ ⬇

Absorption: Well absorbed after oral administration.

Distribution: Widely distributed to extravascular tissues.

Protein Binding: 96%.

Metabolism/Excretion: Partially metabolized by the liver (CYP2D6 and CYP3A4 isoenyzmes) and partially excreted by kidneys (17% unchanged). Two metabolites are pharmacologically active. The CYP2D6 enzyme system exhibits genetic polymorphism (∼7% of population may be poor metabolizers and may have significantly ↑ donepezil concentrations and an ↑ risk of adverse effects).

Half-Life: Oral: 70 hr.

Time/Action Profile ⬆ ⬇

( improvement in symptoms)

ROUTEONSETPEAKDURATION
POunknownseveral wk6 wk‡

‡Return to baseline after discontinuation.

Patient/Family Teaching ⬆ ⬇

Pronunciation ⬆ ⬇

doe-NEP-i-zil

Pill Image

donepezil_319-128.jpg

Code ⬆

NDC Code