What Are the Benefits of Aricept?

Aricept is a brand name for the prescription medication donepezil hydrochloride. Doctors prescribe Aricept for the treatment of disorders that affect the brain.

Function

Aricept increases levels of a brain chemical known as acetylcholine by inhibiting the actions of a substance that causes the breakdown of the chemical in the brain.

Uses

Because dementia related to Alzheimer's is believed to be partially caused by a deficiency of acetylcholine, Aricept is used for the treatment of Alzheimer's.

Expert Insight

In U.S. Food and Drug Administration clinical trials, patients who took Aricept experienced a slower decline in brain function than did patients who were not treated with the drug. Thus, Aricept is not a cure for Alzheimer's but rather a method of decreasing the pace of degeneration associated with the disease.

Considerations

Aricept is most effective when taken for mild to moderate Alzheimer's, though the drug can be used to treat the disease at any stage in its progression.

Warning

If you have a history of asthma, lung disease, peptic ulcers, seizures, urinary tract blockages or kidney or liver disease, it may not be safe for you to take Aricept.

References

• RxList: Aricept
• Mayo Clinic: Aricept