Donepezil
Brand: Aricept
Common side effects
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Loss of appetite
- Trouble sleeping
- Slow heart rate
Key interactions & cautions
- Anticholinergic drugs oppose its effect
- Additive slowing with beta blockers
- NSAIDs may raise stomach bleeding risk
- Caution with other cholinergic drugs
Counseling points
- Take at bedtime as directed
- May cause nausea early on
- Report fainting or very slow pulse
- Take with food to ease stomach upset
- Improvement is gradual, not a cure
High-yield study aid for exam prep — not a substitute for the package insert or a pharmacist’s dispensing reference.