Donepezil

How should you use this medication?
Take this medicine by mouth with a glass of water. Follow the directions on the prescription label. You may take this medicine with or without food. Take this medicine at regular intervals. This medicine is usually taken before bedtime. Do not take it more often than directed. Continue to take your medicine even if you feel better. Do not stop taking except on your doctor’s advice.

If you are taking the 23 mg donepezil tablet, swallow it whole; do not cut, crush, or chew it.

Talk to your pediatrician regarding the use of this medicine in children. Special care may be needed.

What are the possible side effects of this medicine?
Side effects that you should report to your doctor or health care professional as soon as possible:

allergic reactions like skin rash, itching or hives, swelling of the face, lips, or tongue
feeling faint or lightheaded, falls
loss of bladder control
seizures
signs and symptoms of a dangerous change in heartbeat or heart rhythm like chest pain; dizziness; fast or irregular heartbeat; palpitations; feeling faint or lightheaded, falls; breathing problems
signs and symptoms of infection like fever or chills; cough; sore throat; pain or trouble passing urine
signs and symptoms of liver injury like dark yellow or brown urine; general ill feeling or flu-like symptoms; light-colored stools; loss of appetite; nausea; right upper belly pain; unusually weak or tired; yellowing of the eyes or skin
slow heartbeat or palpitations
unusual bleeding or bruising
vomiting

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your doctor or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):

diarrhea, especially when starting treatment
headache
loss of appetite
muscle cramps
nausea
stomach upset

What may interact with this medicine?
Our pharmacists will check to see if this medication will cause any interactions with the information in your profile.
Do not take this medicine with any of the following medications:

certain medicines for fungal infections like itraconazole, fluconazole, posaconazole, and voriconazole
cisapride
dextromethorphan; quinidine
dronedarone
pimozide
quinidine
thioridazine

This medicine may also interact with the following medications:

antihistamines for allergy, cough and cold
atropine
bethanechol
carbamazepine
certain medicines for bladder problems like oxybutynin, tolterodine
certain medicines for Parkinson’s disease like benztropine, trihexyphenidyl
certain medicines for stomach problems like dicyclomine, hyoscyamine
certain medicines for travel sickness like scopolamine
dexamethasone
dofetilide
ipratropium
NSAIDs, medicines for pain and inflammation, like ibuprofen or naproxen
other medicines for Alzheimer’s disease
other medicines that prolong the QT interval (cause an abnormal heart rhythm)
phenobarbital
phenytoin
rifampin, rifabutin or rifapentine
ziprasidone