ARICEPT Reviews (DONEPEZIL HYDROCHLORIDE)

Average Rating: 1.7 (210 Ratings)

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 ALZHEIMER-TYPE DEMENTIA

 Type: Rx Drug

  

ARICEPT  (DONEPEZIL HYDROCHLORIDE):  Donepezil is used to treat confusion (dementia) related to Alzheimer's disease. It does not cure Alzheimer's disease, but it may improve memory, awareness, and the ability to function. This medication is an enzyme blocker that works by restoring the balance of natural substances (neurotransmitters) in the brain.   FDA Approval Date: 1996-11-25 (Sources: U.S. Centers for Medicare Services, FDA)

  

Results are sorted by Gender with females listed first (reviews with no gender reported listed before females).

Key to Ratings: 1=LOW (I would not recommend taking this medicine.)
5=HIGH (this medicine cured me or helped me a great deal.)

Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11


RATING  REASONSIDE EFFECTS FOR ARICEPTCOMMENTSSEXAGEDURATION/
DOSAGE
DATE ADDED
 
 3  Alzheimer's (mother not me) No side effects from 5mg dose and noticeable improvement in cognitive ability. At 10mg almost instant terrible dreams for mum and constant tearfulness during day too. She has always been prone to have nightmares which left her distressed for days afterwards but it was a few times a year not twice a night! Mum is going to stop taking it. We will consult with her clinic as to other drugs or maybe return to a lower dose of Aricept. Coconut oil has had no effect after consistent use for 6 months at high doses. I can't see any other options. Pity about Aricept as it did really work. 79 2 months
5mg, 10mg
5/29/2016
 1   The person who made comment number 4 must have close ties to the pharmaceutical companies or is just too out of it to be taking care of anyone. Did you not read that the patients' condition worsened extremely while on the drug and then improved when off the drug? How's that "worth a try"? You know what works for many? Coconut oil Two tablespoons per day and has many other health benefits including maintaining healthy cholesterol levels. You can easily research it and that's worth a try. I know folks who took Aracept and it was a nightmare. 1 days
3/13/2016
 1  Early onset Alzhiemers Dad started on 5mg and seemed ok but when dosage was increased to 10mg.the first symptoms were constant nose running,dry skin on forehead and very dark urine..We informed the doctors but were told it may settle down...Things got much worse with nausea and bouts of sickness,burping and belching after every meal,very bad dreams and waking in the night,urinary incontinence,blocked bowels,very withdrawn and "vacant" personality,Tearful,Agitated and nervous sometimes but could also be very sleepy during the day.. In hindsight we wished that dad had never been prescribed this drug as it failed to improve anything about his condition and only brought a large amount of stress and misery to his life. After 3 months we stopped the drug without informing the doctor as we knew that it was the Aricept causing all the unwanted side effects as dads health had been excellent up until this point..We also stopped the statins which dad had been on for years as we found out that they can cause memory issues..Dad had no history of heart problems & there was no reason why he should take them....We also found out that Aricept over-stimulates the para sympathetic side of the nervous system which affects the glands and excretions of the body hence the eye-watering,the runny-nose,stomach excretions,incontinence etc....After 6 or 7 weeks of stopping Aricept luckily the symptoms finaly went away and now dad is much happier and relaxed...I would warn anyone who is going to take this drug to think very carefully indeed as it is incredible how it can change people for the worst! 77 90 days
10mg 1X day
5/11/2015
Email
 1  short term memory loss lack of appetite,dizzy,loss of energy,appetite 2 weeks
5 1X day
6/20/2015
 1  My husband - mid stage dementia Became non verbal, dramatically deceased appetite, diarrhea, incontinence, serious overall decline resulting in hospice care After the drug was discontinued, and it cleared his system, the symptoms resolved as dramatically as they appeared. Seems to me our cultural fear of dying is causing folks to seek false hope. I wouldn't recommend donezipil to anyone. 90 6 weeks
10 1X day
1/10/2023
 5  Lewy body dementia None so far My mother was having hallucinations non stop- after only 4 days on aricept they have already diminished to at least half of what she was having. I am so thankful for this drug. F 80 4 days
5mg 1X day
7/13/2020
 5  Sundowning; neuroborelliosis (Lyme) Slightly lower blood pressure; slight nausea experienced during times of stress. Loss of weight, or difficulty gaining weight. Attribution to Aricept inferred. not solidly connected. Have 'Alzheimer-like' sundowning symptoms with (as a result of?) late stage Lyme Disease. Aricept at 10mg. markedly reduced sundowning issues in frequency and intensity, but still have evening 'disconnect' issues. F 67 4 months
10 1X day
6/24/2014
Email
 5  Vascular Dementia nausea,bloating,confusion,heartburns. all of which subsides after 2 weeks on the drug. Aricept is a wonder drug! a true life saver for my grandmother. My grandmother was a complete wreck and started to deteriorate rapidly after having 5 strokes. her doctor diagnosed her with vascular dementia and prescribe aricept + namenda along with her daily drug regimen (aspirin, plavix, benicar, tekturna, crestor, zetia, lexapro, lamictal, soriatane). now she's absolutely couldn't be better,she's functions well with us and remember every little detail. I would recommend aricept and namenda to anyone who suffers from vascular dementia! F 75 1 years
12/19/2009
 5  Mixed dementia, vascular for sure Fullness in neck/throat, slight ringing or buzzing in ears first 4 or so days. Only diarrhea on second day. Each morning when I wake up I feel great, aware, and alert, with fresh ideas. Actually interested in sex again after maybe months of not caring. I can plan projects. After a couple of weeks of frustration of not being able to figure out what goes into my coffee (not aspirin, not vitamins, etc., ) once on Aricept I know how to make my morning cup of coffee again! F 62 7 days
5 mg 1X day
7/6/2015
Email
 5   I am now 70 years old, 71 next month. I began taking ARICEPT 3 years ago when I felt my memory was beginning to suffer. I have never been happier and more alert and remember everything. I am devastated by the negative reports on this wonderful drug. If I live to 86 and then the "side effects" will show up, I have no problem with that. My memory and functioning now is equivalent to what it was at least 25 years ago, and I am hopeful it will continue. F 70 3 years
1X day
9/25/2010
 5   none so far,seem to feel better thinking more carely,memory improved Hope it keep on working!!!! F 74
5mg 1X day
10/14/2010
 5  memory loss & concentration I am 76 years old. I began the30 day sample of this medicine about two weeks ago. I didn't think this med could work so fast until I read comments in this site. Within a week I found my memory retention was inproving and I had no ill side effects. I figured that if the bad side effects could be evident within 1 day that my week of good effects could certainly be possible. I have always had a gift for remembering numbers. About a year or two ago I felt angry at the loss of this skill. Hooray! It's back! I hope now to regain conversational skills so I don't lose my way or get off track with the slightest sidetrack. It appears to be better for early memory loss than for fully diagnosed Alz. I worked with Alzheimers residents for years and have seen the cost to the family. I have known about Aricept for years. I never believed that I would be taking it! F 76 11 days
5 MG 1X day
5/19/2011
 5  Alzheimer's Disease No side effects. Also taking 10mg of Namenda twice daily. My mother who was diagnosed in 2006, has been on Aricept and Namenda and it is not the medication it is the disease which causes the aggressiveness. My mother had no side effects until 2011 and I was told it was the disease progressing. The medication has "bought" my mother and our family several years of valuable time together. We are just now beginning to see this mean disease begin to progress. When we saw the aggressive behavior begin, we placed Mom on Abilify. I know, it has side effects and a black box warning that it can cause death in the elderly. My doctor explained that there are two age groups of studies done on this medication. One is that of young people approximately 25 to 35 and an other one done on older adults, thus causing more side effects due to heart and health issues. My mother has done very well on this med and the aggressive behavior is completely gone. She takes it with nightly medications. I guess I am wondering if the aricapt and namenda will keep her in this "limbo" stage for years or should we expect it to progress soon? It sounds like every individual who has been diagnosed with AD progresses at different rates even if they take these meds which slow down the disease. F 78 5 years
10mg 1X day
7/31/2011
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 5  alzheimers improved behaviour. slowed memory loss,but after awhile don't notic as no memory,but you do notice need for drug in terms of behaviour and feeling safe, secure , no anxious and happy. taken off it because of fainting spells but quickly decided better to be on it. F 78 4 years
10 1X day
11/20/2011
 5  dementia During the early stages of taking Aricept, diarrhea and some fecal incontinence were noticeable side effects. Aricept has given my 76 year-old mother "herself" back and I'm extremely grateful to the doctor who prescribed Aricept for her. She's her "old" self - and, so very happy and grateful - as are her family and friends. F 76 60 days
8/27/2006
Email
 5  dementia During the early stages of taking Aricept, diarrhea and some fecal incontinence were noticeable side effects. Aricept has given my 76 year-old mother "herself" back and I'm extremely grateful to the doctor who prescribed Aricept for her. She's her "old" self - and, so very happy and grateful - as are her family and friends. F 48 60 days
8/27/2006
Email
 5  For short term memory None My Doctor precribed Aricept when I mentioned short term memory problems. It is wonderful, my memory is much better and I really feel like my old self. My anxiety is much lower, balance is better, can recall many memories that I thought were lost. Am enjoying life again. F 72 4 months
2/21/2009
Email
 4  onset of Alzheimers disease At first, some dizzyness, mild nausea, some insomnia. Once on the medicine for about 1 month, these side effects disappeared. Some slight dizzyness experienced at odd times. Brought me back to "Normal " F 73 3 days
2/27/2008
 4  Mother has Alzheimer's Disease Occasional dizziness and 'thick head'in the first few weeks of taking it. We've had a very difficult few months since Mum stopped being able to cope living alone. Short-term memory gone; various cognitive and perceptual confusions; very insecure and anxious, with panic attacks etc. Alzheimer's eventually diagnosed and Aricept prescribed. I had a lot of misgivings and concerns about her starting it after reading other people's reports and side effects on this and other sites. However so far, after 2 months, the improvement has been fantastic! I noticed an almost immediate improvement starting in some memory function after 2-3 days on the 5mgs dose, and now after the first month on the 10mgs dose, further improvement again, beyond my best hopes; Mum is managing at home again, with carer visits; remembering much more information and events etc, more reliable congitive functioning in all ways, and best of all, her anxiety state has gone, and she is confidently Spring cleaning after being able to do/initiate very little just a month or so ago! Possibly current energy and activity is a bit 'over the top' relative to Mum's 'normal', and of course we don't know for sure what the coming weeks and moths will bring. But for now, I'm delighted with Aricept. I clearly doesn't help everyone, but it certainly helps some, so don't rule it out prematurely. Good luck! F 83 9 weeks
4/20/2009
 4  my mother for Alzheimers some diarrhea My Mom is 87 and was diagnosed with "early Alzheimers" in 1995. They told us the average lifespan was 7 years. This is 2009 and altho she has declined, she still plays the piano and has a happy personality. I credit Aricept for this, as she's been on it 12 years. F 87 12 years
8/7/2009
  

ARICEPT  (DONEPEZIL HYDROCHLORIDE):  Donepezil is used to treat confusion (dementia) related to Alzheimer's disease. It does not cure Alzheimer's disease, but it may improve memory, awareness, and the ability to function. This medication is an enzyme blocker that works by restoring the balance of natural substances (neurotransmitters) in the brain.   FDA Approval Date: 1996-11-25 (Sources: U.S. Centers for Medicare Services, FDA)

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