How Does Aricept Work?

Overview of Aricept

Aricept is the brand name of a drug called donepezil. Donepezil belongs to a group of drugs called cholinesterase inhibitors that prevent the breakdown of acetylcholine, a chemical that is important for memory, thinking, and reasoning. Aricept is the number one prescribed drug for Alzheimer's disease. The FDA approved Aricept in 1996 for mild to moderate Alzheimer's. In 2006, the FDA approved Aricept for severe Alzheimer's disease. Aricept improves the function of nerve cells by reducing the breakdown of acetylcholine. Acetylcholine sends messages to the nerve cells involved with the cognitive skills of memory, thinking, and reasoning. By reducing the breakdown of acetylcholine, the progression of symptoms slows. Because Aricept works differently in patients, some patients will show increased cognitive ability while others will not seem to show any change. Extensive studies, however, show that Aricept does improve the quality of life.

Facts About Alzheimer's Disease

Statistics show that Alzheimer's disease usually affects people over the age of 65, and 50 percent of people over the age of 85 will develop Alzheimer's. The disease causes memory loss starting with short-term memory and eventually affecting a person's ability to do normal tasks. The causes of Alzheimer's are not known accept that age is a major factor. Some people will develop Alzheimer's when they are in their forties and fifties. Heredity is usually the factor, but for those who develop the disease in later years, the progression is a slow process of eight to ten years. Symptoms will be subtle such as a habit of repeating the same question or forgetting placement of an item. As the disease progresses, changes in personality usually appear. The patient may become angry and grow fearful of sounds and people. The patient may become lost in familiar surroundings and forget how to do simple tasks such as loading the dishwasher or tying shoes. In the final stages of Alzheimer's, patients may lose their ability to communicate and not recognize family members. The purpose of Aricept is to slow the progression of the symptoms, so patients may be able to function for a longer period.

Facts About Taking Aricept

Aricept comes in five milligram and ten milligram tablets. The dosage is once a day with or without food. Few people have trouble tolerating the drug and side effects are usually mild. Some side effects may be nausea, diarrhea, and loss of appetite. The medicine works differently on all people. There may be a significant change in cognitive skills and there may not be a noticeable change. This does not mean the drug is ineffective. For some, the drug will stabilize the progression of symptoms for a while and then slow the progression of symptoms. Because it is FDA approved and has been through a number of studies, Aricept is covered my most insurance plans.

Resources

• Aricept Website