{"ok":true,"entry":{"slug":"donepezil","kind":"medication","name":"donepezil","aliases":["Aricept"],"brands_sg":["Aricept","Aricept Evess","Adlarity","Alzer","Torpezil"],"class":"cholinesterase inhibitor","tags":["other"],"use_for":"symptoms of alzheimer's and other dementias — not a cure","use_after":"healthhub: full benefit takes a few weeks of regular use","use_duration":null,"take_with":"with or without food · label times it in the evening","pros":["healthhub: may improve thinking in some patients","once a day, with or without food","tablets, orodispersible tablets and a patch in sg"],"cons":["nausea, diarrhoea, dizziness and poor sleep are common","slow or irregular heartbeat is a flagged rare effect","healthhub: it does not stop dementia getting worse"],"dose_note":"the sg aricept label describes a stepped ceiling: \"Treatment is initiated at 5 mg/day (once-a-day dosing) … the dose of ARICEPT can be increased to 10 mg/day\", and only \"after being stabilized on a daily dose of 10 mg for at least 3 months, the dose may be increased to 23mg (given as one ARICEPT Film-coated Tablet 23 mg) once daily\" in patients not adequately controlled; 23 mg is the highest strength registered here — as directed on the label or by your doctor","dosage":null,"ul_status":null,"sg_class":"prescription-only","cautions":["heart problems, slow or irregular heartbeat — healthhub precaution","seizures, stomach or intestinal ulcers, difficulty passing urine — healthhub precaution","liver disease or respiratory disease — healthhub precaution","pregnancy — the sg aricept label lists it as a contraindication"],"clashes":[{"src":["nhs_donepezil_int"],"note":"nhs: these do not mix well with donepezil and can raise the risk of side effects","with":"heart medicines such as amiodarone, atenolol, bisoprolol, digoxin or verapamil"},{"src":["nhs_donepezil_int2"],"note":"nhs: not taken with donepezil without checking with a doctor first","with":"nsaids including aspirin and ibuprofen"},{"src":["nhs_donepezil_int"],"note":"nhs: can lower donepezil levels in the blood and stop it working as well","with":"st john's wort"},{"src":["nhs_donepezil_int2"],"note":"nhs: the doctor should be told before an operation or minor procedure","with":"general or local anaesthetic"},{"src":["hh_donepezil_food"],"food":true,"note":"healthhub: can cause excessive sleepiness with donepezil","with":"alcohol"}],"sources":[{"id":"hsa_register","url":"https://data.gov.sg/api/action/datastore_search?resource_id=d_767279312753558cbf19d48344577084&limit=6000","label":"HSA — Listing of Registered Therapeutic Products (data.gov.sg d_767279312753558cbf19d48344577084), Forensicclassification column; cached at /tmp/hsa_all.json and filtered locally, not re-fetched","quote":"Aricept Film-coated Tablets 23mg SIN14575P · Aricept Evess 5/10mg SIN13645P/SIN13646P · ADLARITY TRANSDERMAL SYSTEM 5/10 mg/24 hours SIN17381P/SIN17382P · ALZER 5/10 SIN15119P/SIN16006P · TORPEZIL 5/10 MG SIN15250P/SIN15251P — all 15 rows 'Prescription Only'","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"ndf_aricept23","url":"https://www.ndf.gov.sg/about-drugs/product-information/sin14575p/","label":"MOH National Drug Formulary (Singapore) — ARICEPT FILM-COATED TABLETS 23MG [SIN14575P], product information","quote":"ARICEPT FILM-COATED TABLETS 23MG [SIN14575P] … DONEPEZIL 20.98 MG EQV DONEPEZIL HYDROCHLORIDE - 23 MG … Forensic Classification PRESCRIPTION ONLY MEDICINES … ATC code N06DA02 … Prescription-only Medicines with Exemptions for Supply without Prescription NA","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"ndf_aricept23_ind","url":"https://www.ndf.gov.sg/about-drugs/product-information/sin14575p/","label":"MOH National Drug Formulary (Singapore) — ARICEPT 23MG [SIN14575P], 4.1 Therapeutic indication","quote":"ARICEPT® is indicated for the symptomatic treatment of mild to moderate and severe Alzheimer's dementia. ARICEPT® Film-coated Tablet 23mg should only be administered to patients whose condition is not adequately controlled by a lower dose of donepezil hydrochloride 10mg.","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"ndf_aricept23_dose2","url":"https://www.ndf.gov.sg/about-drugs/product-information/sin14575p/","label":"MOH National Drug Formulary (Singapore) — ARICEPT 23MG [SIN14575P], 4.2 Posology: 5 mg and 10 mg steps","quote":"Treatment is initiated at 5 mg/day (once-a-day dosing) … Following 4–6 weeks clinical assessment of treatment at 5 mg/day, the dose of ARICEPT® can be increased to 10 mg/day (once-a-day dosing).","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"ndf_aricept23_dose","url":"https://www.ndf.gov.sg/about-drugs/product-information/sin14575p/","label":"MOH National Drug Formulary (Singapore) — ARICEPT 23MG [SIN14575P], 4.2 Posology: the 23 mg ceiling","quote":"If well tolerated and after being stabilized on a daily dose of 10 mg for at least 3 months, the dose may be increased to 23mg (given as one ARICEPT® Film-coated Tablet 23 mg) once daily","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"ndf_aricept23_evening","url":"https://www.ndf.gov.sg/about-drugs/product-information/sin14575p/","label":"MOH National Drug Formulary (Singapore) — ARICEPT 23MG [SIN14575P], 4.2 method of administration","quote":"ARICEPT® Film-coated Tablets can be taken once daily in the evening just prior to retiring and can be taken with or without food.","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"ndf_aricept23_contra","url":"https://www.ndf.gov.sg/about-drugs/product-information/sin14575p/","label":"MOH National Drug Formulary (Singapore) — ARICEPT 23MG [SIN14575P], 4.3 Contraindications","quote":"ARICEPT® is contraindicated in patients with a known hypersensitivity to donepezil hydrochloride, piperidine derivatives, or to any excipients used in the formulation. ARICEPT® is contraindicated in pregnancy.","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"hh_donepezil","url":"https://www.healthhub.sg/medication-devices-and-treatment/medications/donepezil","label":"HealthHub (MOH Singapore) — Donepezil, medication information leaflet, last reviewed 18 February 2025","quote":"Donepezil belongs to a class of medications known as acetylcholinesterase inhibitors. It is used to reduce the symptoms of mild to moderate and severe Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"hh_donepezil_notcure","url":"https://www.healthhub.sg/medication-devices-and-treatment/medications/donepezil","label":"HealthHub (MOH Singapore) — Donepezil, what it does and does not do","quote":"It will not cure or stop the dementia from getting worse, but it may improve the ability to think in some patients and slow down the worsening of these symptoms.","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"hh_donepezil_admin","url":"https://www.healthhub.sg/medication-devices-and-treatment/medications/donepezil","label":"HealthHub (MOH Singapore) — Donepezil, how to take it","quote":"Donepezil can be taken with or without food. … Donepezil needs to be taken regularly for a few weeks before you can feel its full benefits.","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"hh_donepezil_se","url":"https://www.healthhub.sg/medication-devices-and-treatment/medications/donepezil","label":"HealthHub (MOH Singapore) — Donepezil, common side effects","quote":"Drowsiness or feeling tired … Nausea, vomiting … Diarrhoea … Dizziness … Difficulty sleeping … Headache, loss of appetite or weight loss, muscle cramps","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"hh_donepezil_rare","url":"https://www.healthhub.sg/medication-devices-and-treatment/medications/donepezil","label":"HealthHub (MOH Singapore) — Donepezil, rare but serious side effects","quote":"Rarely this medication may cause: Seizures (fits) … Slow heartbeat … Fast or irregular heartbeat, fainting episodes (signs and symptoms of an abnormal heart beating rhythm (prolonged QTc interval))","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"hh_donepezil_prec","url":"https://www.healthhub.sg/medication-devices-and-treatment/medications/donepezil","label":"HealthHub (MOH Singapore) — Donepezil, precautions","quote":"Medical conditions such as … Heart problems, slow or irregular heartbeat … Liver disease … Seizures (fits) … Respiratory diseases … Stomach or intestinal ulcers … Difficulty in passing urine","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"hh_donepezil_food","url":"https://www.healthhub.sg/medication-devices-and-treatment/medications/donepezil","label":"HealthHub (MOH Singapore) — Donepezil, food and medication to avoid","quote":"Avoid drinking alcohol while taking Donepezil as it can cause excessive sleepiness.","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"nhs_donepezil_int","url":"https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/donepezil/taking-donepezil-with-other-medicines-and-herbal-supplements/","label":"NHS medicines A–Z — Taking donepezil with other medicines and herbal supplements (reviewed 15 March 2023)","quote":"Some medicines do not mix well with donepezil. They can increase the risk of side effects … take medicines used for heart problems like amiodarone … digoxin or verapamil … St John's wort … can lower the levels of donepezil in your blood.","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"nhs_donepezil_int2","url":"https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/donepezil/taking-donepezil-with-other-medicines-and-herbal-supplements/","label":"NHS medicines A–Z — Taking donepezil with painkillers and before anaesthetic","quote":"Do not take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) … such as aspirin or ibuprofen … without checking with a doctor first. … are due to have general or local anaesthetic (for an operation or a minor procedure)","accessed":"2026-08-27"}],"brand_certs":null,"updated_at":"2026-08-29T16:16:18.585742+08:00"},"disclaimer":"kozen-x is not a medical device and does not give medical advice. it lists what published sources have written down. absence of a record is not the same as safe."}