Donestad 5

Rx

Indications

• For the symptomatic treatment of mild to moderately severe Alzheimer’s dementia.

Dosage

• Treatment should begin at a dose of 5 mg/day (once daily), maintained for at least one month to monitor response.
• After one month of evaluation, the dose may be increased to 10 mg/day (once daily).
• The maximum recommended daily dose is 10 mg.

Usage

• Taken orally, in the evening, before bedtime.
• The tablet should be placed on the tongue and allowed to disintegrate before swallowing with or without water, according to patient preference.

• Donestad 5 is not recommended for use in children and adolescents below 18 years of age.
• Hypersensitivity to donepezil hydrochloride, piperidine derivatives, or to any of the excipients.

• Diarrhoea, nausea.
• Headache.
• Common cold.
• Anorexia.
• Hallucinations, agitation, aggressive behaviour, abnormal dreams and nightmares.
• Syncope, dizziness, insomnia.
• Vomiting, abdominal disturbance.
• Rash, pruritus.
• Muscle cramps.
• Urinary incontinence.
• Fatigue, pain.
• Accidents (patients may be more prone to falls and accidental injury).

• The use of donepezil hydrochloride in patients with severe Alzheimer’s dementia, other types of dementia or other types of memory impairment (e.g., age-related cognitive decline), has not been investigated.
• Donepezil hydrochloride is likely to exaggerate succinylcholine-type muscle relaxation during anaesthesia.
• The medication does not cure Alzheimer’s disease completely; it only slows down the symptoms.
• People with heart disease, asthma, liver disease, or those taking other medications should inform their doctor.
• Pregnant and lactating women should not use Donestad 5 unless really necessary.
• Donepezil has minor or moderate influence on the ability to drive and use machines. Furthermore, donepezil can induce fatigue, dizziness and muscle cramps, mainly when initiating or increasing the dose.