How ARICEPT® (donepezil HCI) May Work

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HOW ARICEPT Is Thought to Work

When someone has Alzheimer's disease, nerve cells and vital chemicals in the brain are lost over time. This occurs in parts of the brain that are key to memory and other mental processes. One such chemical is called acetylcholine. This chemical helps carry messages from nerve cell to nerve cell in the brain. Alzheimer's may impair thinking and memory by disrupting these messages between cells.

It is thought that ARICEPT may help reduce the breakdown of acetylcholine, as shown in this video.

ARICEPT may help reduce the breakdown of acetylcholine?

See what to expect with ARICEPT

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ARICEPT^® (donepezil HCl tablets) is indicated for the treatment of mild, moderate, and severe dementia of the Alzheimer's type.

Important Safety Information

ARICEPT is well tolerated but may not be for everyone. People at risk for stomach ulcers or who take certain other medicines should tell their doctors because serious stomach problems, such as bleeding, may get worse. Some people who take ARICEPT may experience fainting. Some people may have nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, bruising, or not sleep well. Some people may have muscle cramps or loss of appetite or may feel tired. In studies these were usually mild and temporary. For full prescribing information, please visit Prescribing Information.

This Web site contains information relating to various medical conditions and their treatment. Such information is provided for educational purposes only and is not meant to be a substitute for the advice of a physician or other health care professional. You should not use this information for diagnosing a health problem or disease. In order for you to make intelligent health care decisions, you should always consult with a physician or other health care provider for your, or your loved one's, personal medical needs.

All quotes included in this Web site represent the individual experience of some doctors, some patients, and their caregivers. Individual responses to ARICEPT treatment may vary. Actual identities have been changed to protect individual privacy.

(i) The Licensed Material is being used for illustrative purposes only; and (ii) any person depicted in the Licensed Material, if any, is a model.

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