Aricept, marketed by its developer, Eisai and partner Pfizer, is used for treating Alzheimer’s disease. According to a survey conducted in 2010, approximately 5.3 million Americans belonging to all age groups have Alzheimer’s disease. Among these, 5.1 million people were above 65 years of age and 200,000 individuals were below 65 years of age.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, there are around 500,000 Americans below the age of 65 with Alzheimer’s and other dementias. One in every eight persons aged 65 or older has Alzheimer’s disease. Women, who have a longer lifespan than men, are more susceptible to this disease. By 2050, that number of patient affected by Alzheimer’s disease is expected to reach between 11 and 16 million. The drug improves the function of the nerve cells in the brain. It facilitates by preventing the breakdown of a chemical called acetylcholine. People with dementia normally have lower levels of acetylcholine, which is very important for the memory, thinking, and reasoning processes.
Aricept: Precautions and Warning Before Usage
Aricept has adverse effects on the sinoatrial and atrioventricular nodes. These effects may stimulate heart block in people suffering from cardiac conduction abnormalities.
The drug can increase the chance of secretion of gastric acid. Therefore, patients should be closely monitored for any signs of gastrointestinal bleeding. This is particularly the case with those who are susceptible to developing ulcers. Although not observed in clinical trials, the drug may also cause bladder outflow obstruction.
There are no adequate studies available on the effects of Aricept on pregnant women. However, should be used during pregnancy only if there is no risk to the fetus. It is not known whether donepezil is excreted in human breast milk but it is usually advised to nursing women not to take Aricept without doctor’s permission.
Dosage of Aricept
Initially 5 mg of the drug is prescribed once a day, to be taken at bedtime. Your can increase the dosage to 10 mg once daily after you have been taking the 5-mg dose for at least four to six weeks, only with the doctor’s permission. If required, your dosage may be further increased to 23 mg once every day, but only after you have been taking the 10-mg dose for at least three months.
Common Side Effects of Aricept
The normal side effects of the medicine include bradycardia, nausea, diarrhea, anorexia, and abdominal pain. In 2006, Eisai, the drug manufacturer, had issued a statement that a single vascular dementia study found a difference in the percent of study participants who died in the donepezil group (1.7%) versus the placebo group (0%). This could have happened due to an unusually low death rate in the placebo group. A study of all three vascular dementia trials conducted by Eisai found no significant differences in mortality rates in the donepezil and placebo groups which were only 1.7% and 1.1% respectively.