donepezil (oral)

Skip to main navigation

Skip to footer

For Medicare For Providers For Brokers For Employers

Español

For Individuals & Families:

For Individuals & Families

Shop for Plans

Medical

Dental

Other Supplemental

Explore coverage through work

How to Buy Health Insurance

Types of Dental Insurance

Open Enrollment vs. Special Enrollment

See all topics

Shop for Medicare plans

Member Guide

Find a Doctor

Home

Knowledge Center

Wellness Library

donepezil (oral)

Pronunciation: doe NEP e zil

Brand: Aricept, Aricept ODT

Donepezil Hydrochloride

slide 1 of 27, Donepezil Hydrochloride,

5 mg, round, white, imprinted with L160

slide 1 of 27

Donepezil Hydrochloride

slide 2 of 27, Donepezil Hydrochloride,

5 mg, round, white, imprinted with 5

slide 2 of 27

Donepezil Hydrochloride

slide 3 of 27, Donepezil Hydrochloride,

10 mg, round, yellow, imprinted with 10

slide 3 of 27

Donepezil Hydrochloride

slide 4 of 27, Donepezil Hydrochloride,

23 mg, round, white, imprinted with T004

slide 4 of 27

Donepezil Hydrochloride

slide 5 of 27, Donepezil Hydrochloride,

23 mg, round, red, imprinted with C26

slide 5 of 27

Donepezil Hydrochloride

slide 6 of 27, Donepezil Hydrochloride,

5 mg, round, blue, imprinted with HH 205

slide 6 of 27

Donepezil Hydrochloride

slide 7 of 27, Donepezil Hydrochloride,

10 mg, round, yellow, imprinted with HH 210

slide 7 of 27

Donepezil Hydrochloride

slide 8 of 27, Donepezil Hydrochloride,

5 mg, round, white, imprinted with X, 11

slide 8 of 27

Donepezil Hydrochloride

slide 9 of 27, Donepezil Hydrochloride,

10 mg, round, yellow, imprinted with X, 12

slide 9 of 27

Aricept

slide 10 of 27, Aricept,

5 mg, round, white, imprinted with ARICEPT, 5

slide 10 of 27

Aricept

slide 11 of 27, Aricept,

10 mg, round, yellow, imprinted with ARICEPT, 10

slide 11 of 27

Aricept

slide 12 of 27, Aricept,

23 mg, round, red, imprinted with 23, ARICEPT

slide 12 of 27

Donepezil Hydrochloride

slide 13 of 27, Donepezil Hydrochloride,

5 mg, round, yellow, imprinted with RC25

slide 13 of 27

Donepezil Hydrochloride

slide 14 of 27, Donepezil Hydrochloride,

10 mg, round, yellow, imprinted with RC26

slide 14 of 27

Donepezil Hydrochloride

slide 15 of 27, Donepezil Hydrochloride,

5 mg, round, white, imprinted with ZF14

slide 15 of 27

Donepezil Hydrochloride

slide 16 of 27, Donepezil Hydrochloride,

10 mg, round, white, imprinted with ZF15

slide 16 of 27

Aricept

slide 17 of 27, Aricept,

10 mg, round, yellow, imprinted with ARICEPT, 10

slide 17 of 27

Aricept

slide 18 of 27, Aricept,

5 mg, round, white, imprinted with ARICEPT, 5

slide 18 of 27

Donepezil Hydrochloride

slide 19 of 27, Donepezil Hydrochloride,

10 mg, round, yellow, imprinted with TEVA, 739

slide 19 of 27

Donepezil Hydrochloride

slide 20 of 27, Donepezil Hydrochloride,

10 mg, round, white, imprinted with b 152

slide 20 of 27

Donepezil Hydrochloride

slide 21 of 27, Donepezil Hydrochloride,

23 mg, round, pink, imprinted with M, D N

slide 21 of 27

Donepezil Hydrochloride

slide 22 of 27, Donepezil Hydrochloride,

5 mg, round, white, imprinted with 5

slide 22 of 27

Donepezil Hydrochloride

slide 23 of 27, Donepezil Hydrochloride,

5 mg, round, white, imprinted with SG, 139

slide 23 of 27

Donepezil Hydrochloride

slide 24 of 27, Donepezil Hydrochloride,

5 mg, round, white, imprinted with TEVA, 738

slide 24 of 27

Donepezil Hydrochloride

slide 25 of 27, Donepezil Hydrochloride,

5 mg, round, white, imprinted with b, 151

slide 25 of 27

Donepezil Hydrochloride ODT

slide 26 of 27, Donepezil Hydrochloride ODT,

10 mg, round, yellow, orange, imprinted with 251, U

slide 26 of 27

Donepezil Hydrochloride ODT

slide 27 of 27, Donepezil Hydrochloride ODT,

5 mg, round, white, orange, imprinted with 250, U

slide 27 of 27

What is the most important information I should know about donepezil?

Follow all directions on your medicine label and package. Tell each of your healthcare providers about all your medical conditions, allergies, and all medicines you use.

What is donepezil?

Donepezil is used to help improve mental function in people with Alzheimer's disease.

Donepezil does not work the same in all people. Some people taking this medicine have improved mental function, while others may have unchanged or even worsening mental function.

Donepezil is not a cure for Alzheimer's disease. This condition will progress over time, even in people who take donepezil.

Donepezil may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking donepezil?

You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to donepezil or certain other drugs. Tell your doctor if you are allergic to any medicines.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

a heart rhythm disorder;
a stomach ulcer;
urination problems;
asthma or other breathing disorder;
liver or kidney disease;
a seizure; or
trouble swallowing tablets.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.

How should I take donepezil?

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Use the medicine exactly as directed.

You may take donepezil with or without food.

Swallow the regular tablet whole and do not crush, chew, or break it.

Remove an orally disintegrating tablet from the package only when you are ready to take the medicine. Place the tablet in your mouth and allow it to dissolve, without chewing. Swallow several times as the tablet dissolves. After the tablet dissolves completely, drink a glass of water.

If you need surgery or dental work, tell the surgeon or dentist ahead of time that you are using donepezil. You may need to stop using the medicine for a short time.

You should not stop using donepezil without your doctor's advice.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Skip the missed dose and use your next dose at the regular time. Do not use two doses at one time.

If you miss your doses for more than 7 days in a row, call your doctor before taking the medicine again.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Overdose symptoms may include severe nausea, vomiting, drooling, sweating, blurred vision, feeling light-headed, slow heartbeat, shallow breathing, muscle weakness, fainting, or seizure (convulsions).

What should I avoid while taking donepezil?

Avoid driving or hazardous activity until you know how this medicine will affect you. Your reactions could be impaired.

What are the possible side effects of donepezil?

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have:

slow heartbeats;
a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;
new or worsening stomach pain, heartburn, nausea, or vomiting;
a seizure;
painful or difficult urination;
new or worsening breathing problems; or
signs of stomach bleeding --bloody or tarry stools, coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds.

Common side effects may include:

nausea, vomiting, diarrhea;
loss of appetite;
muscle pain;
sleep problems (insomnia); or
feeling tired.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect donepezil?

Ask your doctor before taking a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve), celecoxib (Celebrex), diclofenac, indomethacin, meloxicam, and others. Using an NSAID with donepezil may increase your risk of stomach ulcer.

Other drugs may affect donepezil, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about donepezil.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Copyright 1996-2023 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 4.01. Revision date: 2/8/2019.

Your use of the content provided in this service indicates that you have read, understood and agree to the End-User License Agreement, which can be accessed by End-User License Agreement, which can be accessed by clicking on this link.

This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. Learn how we develop our content.

Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.

<cipublic-spinner variant="large"><span>Loading…</span></cipublic-spinner>

Page Footer

I want to...

Get an ID card

File a claim

View my claims and EOBs

Check coverage under my plan

See prescription drug list

Find an in-network doctor, dentist, or facility

Find a form

Find 1095-B tax form information

View the Cigna Glossary

Contact Cigna

Audiences

Individuals and Families

Medicare

Employers

Brokers

Providers

Secure Member Sites

myCigna member portal

Health Care Provider portal

Cigna for Employers

Client Resource Portal

Cigna for Brokers

The Cigna Group Information

About The Cigna Group

Company Profile

Careers

Newsroom

Investors

Suppliers

The Cigna Group

Third Party Administrators

International

Evernorth

Privacy

Legal

Product Disclosures

Cigna Company Names

Customer Rights

Accessibility

Non-Discrimination Notice

Language Assistance [PDF]

Report Fraud

Sitemap

Disclaimer

Individual and family medical and dental insurance plans are insured by Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company (CHLIC), Cigna HealthCare of Arizona, Inc., Cigna HealthCare of Illinois, Inc., Cigna HealthCare of Georgia, Inc., Cigna HealthCare of North Carolina, Inc., Cigna HealthCare of South Carolina, Inc., and Cigna HealthCare of Texas, Inc. Group health insurance and health benefit plans are insured or administered by CHLIC, Connecticut General Life Insurance Company (CGLIC), or their affiliates (see a listing of the legal entities that insure or administer group HMO, dental HMO, and other products or services in your state). Accidental Injury, Critical Illness, and Hospital Care plans or insurance policies are distributed exclusively by or through operating subsidiaries of Cigna Corporation, are administered by Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company, and are insured by either (i) Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company (Bloomfield, CT); (ii) Life Insurance Company of North America (“LINA”) (Philadelphia, PA); or (iii) New York Life Group Insurance Company of NY (“NYLGICNY”) (New York, NY), formerly known as Cigna Life Insurance Company of New York. The Cigna name, logo, and other Cigna marks are owned by Cigna Intellectual Property, Inc. LINA and NYLGICNY are not affiliates of Cigna.

All insurance policies and group benefit plans contain exclusions and limitations. For availability, costs and complete details of coverage, contact a licensed agent or Cigna sales representative. This website is not intended for residents of New Mexico.

Selecting these links will take you away from Cigna.com to another website, which may be a non-Cigna website. Cigna may not control the content or links of non-Cigna websites. Details

Shop for Plans

Shop for your own coverage

Plans through your employer

Learn

Looking for Medicare coverage?

donepezil (oral)

Donepezil Hydrochloride

Donepezil Hydrochloride

Donepezil Hydrochloride

Donepezil Hydrochloride

Donepezil Hydrochloride

Donepezil Hydrochloride

Donepezil Hydrochloride

Donepezil Hydrochloride

Donepezil Hydrochloride

Aricept

Aricept

Aricept

Donepezil Hydrochloride

Donepezil Hydrochloride

Donepezil Hydrochloride

Donepezil Hydrochloride

Aricept

Aricept

Donepezil Hydrochloride

Donepezil Hydrochloride

Donepezil Hydrochloride

Donepezil Hydrochloride

Donepezil Hydrochloride

Donepezil Hydrochloride

Donepezil Hydrochloride

Donepezil Hydrochloride ODT

Donepezil Hydrochloride ODT

What is the most important information I should know about donepezil?

What is donepezil?

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking donepezil?

How should I take donepezil?

What happens if I miss a dose?

What happens if I overdose?

What should I avoid while taking donepezil?

What are the possible side effects of donepezil?

What other drugs will affect donepezil?

Where can I get more information?

Page Footer

I want to...

Audiences

Secure Member Sites

The Cigna Group Information

Disclaimer