Aricept
Aricept 5mg and 10mg tablets contain donepezil, taken once a day to ease memory and thinking symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, with packs from 30 tablets upwards.
All strengths and pack prices
| Strength | Pack | Price | Per tablet |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5mg | 30 tablets | $29.70 | $0.99 |
| 5mg | 60 tablets | $50.40 | $0.84 |
| 5mg | 90 tablets | $73.80 | $0.82 |
| 5mg | 120 tablets | $96.00 | $0.80 |
| 5mg | 180 tablets | $140.40 | $0.78 |
| 5mg | 360 tablets | $273.60 | $0.76 |
| 10mg | 30 tablets | $46.80 | $1.56 |
| 10mg | 60 tablets | $78.00 | $1.30 |
| 10mg | 90 tablets | $106.20 | $1.18 |
| 10mg | 120 tablets | $129.60 | $1.08 |
Details
- Conditions
- Alzheimer's disease
- Therapeutic Class
- Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitor
- Pharmacological Class
- Piperidine
- Minor Side Effects
- Nausea, Fatigue
- Moderate Side Effects
- Muscle cramps, Diarrhoea
- Dosage Forms
- Tablet
- Administration Route
- Oral
- Originator
- Eisai
- Onset Time
- 2–4 hours
- Duration
- 24 hours
- Storage Instructions
- Store at room temperature.
- Drug Interactions
- Anticholinergic drugs
What you will receive
Aricept is the originator brand name, made by Eisai. We use it to identify the medicine; the pack you receive is a generic equivalent, not the original Aricept.
- The same active ingredient (Donepezil) at the same strength.
- The exact brand supplied depends on what is in stock when your order ships.
FAQ
Which Aricept strengths and pack sizes can I order?
Aricept comes as tablets in 5mg and 10mg. Packs range from 30 up to 360 tablets for 5mg, and 30 up to 120 for 10mg. It is generic donepezil, not the original Aricept. Prices are per tablet in Hong Kong dollars, and larger packs cost less per pack.
What if my Aricept parcel arrives damaged?
If an Aricept parcel arrives damaged, or does not arrive within the delivery window, it is sent again free; if that is not possible the order is refunded. Tracked courier takes 5 to 9 business days; standard airmail takes 14 to 21, untracked. Every parcel is plain and unbranded.
How long does Aricept take to work?
At least a month, and for some people longer. It is meant to ease forgetfulness and confusion rather than produce a sudden change, so the question to ask after a couple of months is whether daily life has become steadier, not whether memory has returned.
Can I drink alcohol while taking Aricept?
It is better not to. Alcohol stops donepezil working as well as it should and raises the chance of side effects such as dizziness, nausea and drowsiness, so even a modest amount works against the tablet.
What happens if Aricept is stopped suddenly?
The benefit fades gradually over the following weeks, and symptoms drift back toward where they would have been without it. The gains in memory and thinking that it provided are lost.
Does Aricept cause weight loss?
It can. Reduced appetite, nausea and diarrhoea are common with donepezil, and some people lose weight as a result. Eating small, regular meals and keeping an eye on weight in the first months catches it early.
About Aricept
Aricept 5mg and 10mg for Alzheimer's disease
Aricept is the name most people know donepezil by, and the tablets sold here under it are generic donepezil in 5mg and 10mg. Donepezil is used for the memory loss, confusion and trouble with everyday tasks that come with Alzheimer's disease. It eases those symptoms for a while in many people; it does not cure the disease or stop it advancing.
The reasoning behind it is simple. Alzheimer's wears down the nerve cells that rely on acetylcholine, a chemical messenger important for memory. Donepezil blocks acetylcholinesterase, the enzyme that clears acetylcholine away, so more of it is left to pass signals between the cells that remain.
Taking it
One tablet a day, normally in the evening just before bed, swallowed whole. Treatment usually begins on 5mg, and if it is going well the dose steps up to 10mg after about a month; 10mg is the usual maintenance strength. Vivid dreams or broken sleep are a known effect of donepezil, and moving the tablet to the morning is the usual fix. Food does not matter.
Side effects
Nausea, diarrhoea and headache are the common ones, along with muscle cramps, tiredness, poor appetite and difficulty sleeping. They tend to ease within the first weeks. Donepezil can slow the heart, so fainting spells or a very slow pulse count as serious, as do black stools or vomiting blood, since it raises stomach acid and the ulcer risk climbs with anti-inflammatory painkillers such as ibuprofen. Medicines with the opposite action, notably some bladder and allergy tablets (anticholinergics), cancel out what donepezil is doing, and it can prolong the effect of some muscle relaxants used in anaesthesia.
Aricept or plain donepezil?
The shop also sells Donepezil tablets, which have the same ingredient, the same two strengths and the same tablet form as Aricept; only the name differs. The donepezil page explains the ingredient and how it differs from other dementia medicines.
Sources
- Donepezil: medicine for dementia - NHS — UK National Health Service
- Medications for Memory, Cognition & Dementia-Related Behaviors | alz.org — alz.org