What side effects are possible with this medication?
A side effect is an unwanted response to a medication when it is taken in normal doses and cannot be anticipated. It can be mild or severe, temporary or permanent, but does not occur in everyone.
The following side effects have been reported by at least 1% of people taking this medication. If you develop any of these side effects (or any other side effects not listed here) or they change in intensity, speak to your doctor or pharmacist for
advice on managing them and on the risks and benefits of the medication.
- abnormal dreams
- depression
- diarrhea
- difficulty passing urine
- dizziness
- drowsiness
- fainting
- frequent urination
- headache
- joint pain, stiffness, or swelling
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- loss of appetite
- muscle cramps
- nausea
- pain
- trouble sleeping
- unusual bleeding or bruising
- unusual tiredness or weakness
- vomiting
- weight loss
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Click here to learn about serious side effects that can potentially occur with any medication. These examples are provided for information purposes only and are not meant to be exhaustive. Always consult your doctor for sound medical advice specific to your particular medication and treatment.
If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online or by phone at 1-800-332-1088.
Are there any other precautions or warnings for this medication?
Before you begin taking a medication, be sure to inform your doctor of any medical conditions or allergies you may have, any medications you are taking, whether you are pregnant or breast-feeding, and any other significant facts about your health. These
factors may affect how you should take this medication.
Asthma and lung conditions: If you have asthma or lung conditions, your doctor should closely monitor you while taking donepezil as this medication could cause symptoms of these conditions to worsen.
Epilepsy: There is a possibility that donepezil may increase the risk of seizures in people with a risk of seizure. If you have a history of seizure disorder, speak to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking donepezil.
Heart disease: If you have heart disease such as active coronary artery disease and congestive heart failure, your doctor should closely monitor you while taking donepezil. Donepezil has the potential to slow the heart rate.
Liver and kidney disease (or difficulty passing urine): Since little information exists on the use of donepezil by people with liver and kidney disease, your doctor should closely monitor you for side effects while taking donepezil.
Serious side effects: Call your doctor right away if you faint, have heartburn or stomach pain that is new or won't go away, nausea or vomiting, blood in the vomit, dark vomit that looks like coffee grounds, bowel movements or stools that look like
black tar, new or worse asthma or breathing problems, seizures, and/or difficulty passing urine.
Stomach problems: Donepezil has the potential to increase the amount of acid that the stomach produces. If you are at increased risk of developing stomach ulcers, your doctor should closely monitor you while taking donepezil.
Surgery: Aricept may cause adverse reactions when taken with certain medications used for anesthesia. Tell your doctor or dentist that you are taking Aricept before any surgery, medical procedures, or dental surgery or procedures.
Pregnancy: The safety of donepezil for use during pregnancy has not been established. Therefore, it should not be used by women who are or may become pregnant unless, in the opinion of their doctor, the potential benefits outweigh the risks.
Breast-feeding: The safety of donepezil for use while breast-feeding has not been established. It is not recommended for breast-feeding women.
Children: The safety and effectiveness of this medication have not been established in children.
What other drugs could interact with this medication?
There may be an interaction between donepezil and any of the following:
- anticholinergic medications (e.g., atropine, hyoscyamine)
- aspirin
- barbiturates (e.g., phenobarbital)
- carbamazepine
- dexamethasone
- ketoconazole
- nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- phenytoin
- quinidine
- rifampin
If you are taking any of these medications, speak with your doctor or pharmacist. Depending on your specific circumstances, your doctor may want you to:
- stop taking one of the medications,
- change one of the medications to another,
- change how you are taking one or both of the medications, or
- leave everything as is.
An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of them. Speak to your doctor about how any drug interactions are being managed or should be managed.
Medications other than those listed above may interact with this medication. Tell your doctor or prescriber about all prescription, over-the-counter (non-prescription), and herbal medications you are taking. Also tell them about any supplements you
take. Since caffeine, alcohol, the nicotine from cigarettes, or street drugs can affect the action of many medications, you should let your prescriber know if you use them.