Aricept Questions

1. What medications besides Aricept and Namenda can help with memory loss?

   There are no other medications that were proven to be effective in Alzheimer's disease. However, you could try medical food Axona made by Accera, Inc. and Concord grape juice. There is some evidence, but not definitive, that these food supplements may be helpful in early Alzheimer's disease.
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2. Should we try to put my wife on Aricept again, if it didn't work for her before?

   The FDA has approved several medications for the treatment of Alzheimer’s. Three of them are called cholinesterase inhibitors: Razadyne® (galantamine), Exelon® (rivastigmine), and Aricept® (donepezil.) They all function pretty the same way. Some people may have unpleasant reactions to one and not anot another of these drugs...
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3. Is Aricept doing more harm than good with pleasant dementia?

   Aricept may have different effects in different people. I would not recommend starting it again if your mother is doing better without it. However, if her dementia progresses, you might want to try it again.
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4. What is the difference between the Exelon patch and the Aricept pill?

   Exelon patch is causing less side effects than Exelon pill but has the same effect as Aricept pill. So you would not get much benefit except may be from easier administration.
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5. How effective are Aricept and Namenda for slowing Alzheimer's disease?

   Most of us feel helpless as we watch the gradual cognitive decline of our loved ones. It’s a natural inclination to reach for any remedy that promises some relief. Before you decide to resort to pharmaceuticals, you can take advantage of the numerous ideas for innovative approaches to caregiving on n this and other websites...
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6. Should we expect drawbacks upon interrupting Aricept treatment and then returning to it?

   It’s too bad that you had to stop the medication for a while. If you find yourself in that situation again, contact the manufacturer for assistance.
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7. Should we stop medications if my father is in the late severe stage of Alzheimer's?

   Aricept and Namenda are slowing down progression of dementia. If dementia progressed to a point where the patient does not have any remaining function left, these medications are no longer effective and may be stopped. However, I would recommend stopping them slowly, one at a time, first decreasing the doses before stopping them completely...
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8. What fever-reducing drug is safe to take with Alzheimer's medications?

   Dementia and managing fever It is rare for someone your Mom’s age to have dementia, especially in the moderate to severe stage. It is very important that everyone with dementia receive the appropriate medications and avoid those that can cause further problems such as adverse drug reactions and intnteractions...
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9. If you are taking Aricept, will you be told not to drive?

   When someone has dementia, their ability to drive safely can become an issue, especially as the disease progresses. Alzheimer's dementia can contribute to slower reaction times while driving and poor decision making, increasing the risks of accidents and injury...
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10. Can Aricept cause nastiness?

    I am sorry that you feel that Aricept is not helping your husband. I do not know at which stage of dementia your husband is, but sometimes Aricept causes problems in people who’ve just stopped realizing that they are sick. Because Aricept is improving their cognitive function, they start recognizingng their disease again and may get angry about that...
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11. Can melatonin be given with Aricept? And if you're on Aricept should the DMV be notified?

    In a well controlled study, melatonin was not found effective in promoting sleep in persons with dementia. Aricept does not help sleep either, it actually could disrupt sleep if given in the evening by causing nightmares. Aricept is sometimes prescribed even for people with mild cognitive impairment...
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12. Can Alzheimer's medications cause nightmares and irritability?

    My father, who is 82, is in the moderate stage of Alzheimers. He has been taking Namenda 10mg twice a day and Aricept 23mg at bedtime. Lately he has been more and more irritable and has been having horrible nightmares that wake him up yelling and jumping out of bed. Do you think this could be because of the medication...

13. Is Aricept harmful without Alzheimer's?

    I M NOT SURE> I AM TRYING TO FIND OUT ALSO?? I THINK IT WOULD
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14. Are there any special instructions for taking Aricept?

    The recomendations for taking Aricept are to take it before bed
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15. Are there herbs that will work like Aricept?

    The only herbal drug I have heard of that helps with memory problems is Ginko biloba. However, findings are inconclusive. So as far as I know, there are no herbs that will work like Aricept.
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16. Can Aricept be crushed?

    According to Aricept.com this pill should be taken whole. You should not break up, cut or crush the medication. The pill is taken by dissolving it on the tongue =, followed by water.
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17. Can Aricept cause a heart attack?

    Aricept has a number of side effects that have been recorded in research studies. However, heart attacks were not listed as having been one of them. There have been incidents of slowed heart beat in less than 2% of the people on Aricept and, high blood pressure...
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18. Can Aricept help with auditory hallucinations in...

    Aricept is said to be a drug that treats dementia types of illnesses like Alzheimer's. It is said to improve brain function. You will have a better ability to learn, think, have better attention span and be able to handle daily activities better...
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19. Can Aricept help with schizophrenia?

    While Aricept may sometimes be prescribed off-label for treating schizophrenia, it is not approved for that use by the FDA. Sufficent studies have not been done testing its efficacy in treating schizophrenia. Aricpt is currently only indicated for use in treating alzheimer's disease, for wich it will only slow the progression of symptoms...
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20. Can the medication Aricept be cut in two?

    According to Aricept.com the pill is meant to be taken whole. It is to be dissolved on the tongue and followed by water. It is not advisable to cut, brake or crush this medication.
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