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Once-A-Day Aricept® (donepezil HCI)

A Proven Treatment
Researchers have tested ARICEPT on people with mild and moderate Alzheimer's. They also tested it on those with severe Alzheimer's. The studies showed that ARICEPT treats Alzheimer's symptoms, slowing the loss of overall function and improving cognition. Here are findings from 3 of the studies on which the FDA based its approval of ARICEPT:
15-week study
A 15-week study looked at ARICEPT in people with mild to moderate Alzheimer's. The study compared 2 groups. One of the groups took ARICEPT. The other group took a placebo (sugar pill). Each group took tests that measured their thinking, memory, and how they functioned in daily life, including effects on behavior. The researchers found that:
  • Compared with the placebo group, the typical patient who took ARICEPT showed improvement on the ADAS-cog test, which measures how well they think, remember, communicate, and figure things out
  • Patients who took the placebo did worse on the ADAS-cog test during the same period of time
  • Compared with the placebo group, about twice as many patients taking ARICEPT showed clinical improvement in the CIBIC-plus test, an interview that measures a person's ability to function
30-week study
A 30-week study also looked at ARICEPT in people with mild to moderate Alzheimer's. In this study, one group took ARICEPT. The other group took a placebo (sugar pill). Both groups took tests to measure thinking, memory, and the ability to function in daily life, including effects on behavior. Researchers compared the results to see if ARICEPT improved or maintained these functions. The researchers learned that:
  • Compared with the placebo group, patients taking ARICEPT scored better on the ADAS-cog test over a 6-month period
  • Compared with the placebo group, about twice as many patients taking ARICEPT showed clinical improvement in the CIBIC-plus test, an interview that measures a person's ability to function
6-month study
A 6-month study looked at patients with severe Alzheimer's. All of these patients lived in nursing homes. The study compared 2 groups of patients. One of the groups took ARICEPT. The other group took a placebo (sugar pill). Each group took tests that measured their thinking, memory, and how they functioned in daily life. The researchers found that:
  • Overall, patients in the ARICEPT group improved on the SIB test; those in the placebo group declined
  • As a whole, patients taking ARICEPT declined significantly less on the ADCS-ADL-severe test than patients in the placebo group

ARICEPT may not work the same for each person. Some studies have shown that symptoms may improve. If symptoms stay the same — or worsen more slowly than expected over time — this may also mean ARICEPT is working.

As Alzheimer's disease progresses, your loved one's symptoms may change. Be sure to tell your doctor about any changes. This may help you and your doctor make the best decisions about care and treatment. If you're thinking of seeing a doctor, here are some questions you may want to ask.

Quick Reference Tests

Quick Reference-tests used in ARICEPT 15- and 30-week studies included measurements such as:

Test What it is What it measures
ADAS-cog Primary Test:
Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive Subscale		 A test that measures thinking, remembering, communication, and the ability to figure things out
CIBIC-plus Primary Test:
Clinician's Interview-Based Impression of Change		 An interview that gauges general change, as well as changes in behavior, thinking, and the ability to perform daily activities
SIB Primary Test:
Severe Impairment Battery		 A questionnaire that measures memory, language, awareness of time and place, attention, movement, hand-eye coordination, recognition of name, construction, and social interaction
ADCS-ADL Primary Test:
Modified Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study Activities for Daily Living inventory for Severe Alzheimer's		 A scale that measures the ability to perform normal day-to-day tasks like dressing, eating, bathing, and turning on lights or water faucets

See How ARICEPT Is Thought to Work


1 Rogers SL, Doody RS, Mohs RC, Friedhoff LT. Donepezil improves cognition and global function in Alzheimer disease: a 15-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Donepezil Study Group. Arch Intern Med. 1998;158:1021-1031.

2 Rogers SL, Farlow MR, Doody RS, Mohs R, Friedhoff LT. A 24-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of donepezil in patients with Alzheimer's disease. Neurology. 1998;50:136-145.

3 Winblad G, Kilander L, Eriksson S. Donepezil in patients with severe Alzheimer's disease: double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled study. Lancet. 2006;367(9516):1057-1065.

 

How will I know if ARICEPT is working?
People may respond differently to ARICEPT. Symptoms may improve for some people taking ARICEPT. In others, ARICEPT may slow down the progression of symptoms. If symptoms stay the same, this may also be a sign that ARICEPT is working.

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