Aricept (donepezil) can cause side effects that range from mild to serious. More common side effects include fatigue and nausea. If side effects from Aricept become difficult to tolerate, talk with your doctor.

Aricept is used to treat dementia related to Alzheimer’s disease. Keep reading to learn about the common, mild, and serious side effects Aricept can cause.

Note: As a person’s condition progresses, they may need help reading or understanding certain information about their treatment plan. This article contains details that may help caregivers learn more about key aspects of Aricept.

Aricept can cause certain side effects, some more common than others. These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. Talk with your doctor if side effects do not go away, get worse, or become too difficult for you to tolerate.

Aricept’s commonly reported side effects include:

To learn more about nausea, loss of appetite, and muscle cramps, see the “Side effects explained” section.

Mild side effects have been reported with Aricept. These include:

  • diarrhea
  • insomnia
  • fatigue
  • weight loss
  • dizziness
  • vomiting
  • nausea
  • loss of appetite
  • muscle cramps

In most cases, these side effects should be temporary, and some may be easily managed. But for symptoms that are ongoing or bothersome, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Do not stop taking Aricept unless your doctor recommends it.

Aricept may cause mild side effects other than those listed above. For details, see the drug’s prescribing information.

To learn more about nausea, loss of appetite, and muscle cramps, see the “Side effects explained” section.

Aricept may cause serious side effects. The following list may not include all possible serious side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Aricept’s prescribing information.

If you develop serious side effects while taking Aricept, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Serious side effects that have been reported with Aricept include:

To learn more about severe nausea, see the “Side effects explained” section.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Sharing your experience helps make medication safer for everyone by giving doctors and researchers more information about how the drug works in real life. If you develop a side effect while taking Aricept and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch or call 800-FDA-1088.

Allergic reaction

Like most drugs, Aricept can cause an allergic reaction in some people. But this side effect wasn’t reported in studies. Symptoms can be mild to serious.

What might help

If you have mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may suggest treatment to manage your symptoms and can determine whether you should keep taking Aricept.

If your doctor confirms you’ve had a mild allergic reaction to Aricept, they’ll decide whether you should continue taking it.

If you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms could be life threatening and require immediate medical care.

If your doctor confirms you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Aricept, they may have you switch to a different treatment.

Get answers to some frequently asked questions about Aricept’s side effects.

Is Aricept safe for older adults?

Yes, in most cases Aricept is safe for older adults (ages 65 years and older). In studies of the drug, the average age of people taking Aricept was 73 years. There weren’t any major side effect differences between older adults and those younger than age 65 years.

However, some older adults may be more likely to experience certain side effects of Aricept, such as:

  • insomnia
  • diarrhea
  • fatigue
  • nausea

Older adults may be more likely to become dehydrated if they have severe diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting. In studies of Aricept, people weighing less than 55 kilograms (about 121 pounds) also had an increased risk of severe nausea, vomiting, and additional weight loss.

If you have questions about the safety of Aricept for use in older adults, ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Will I experience certain side effects when stopping Aricept?

It’s not known whether side effects occur when Aricept treatment is stopped. Most of the side effects reported in studies were mild and temporary.

It’s important that you do not stop taking Aricept without your doctor’s recommendation. If you’d like to stop taking Aricept, talk with your doctor first. They can discuss your treatment progress and the likelihood of experiencing side effects when stopping Aricept. They can also gradually wean you off the medication and monitor for signs of any problems.

Does Aricept cause long-term side effects?

It’s not likely. Long-term side effects are those that either last a long time while you’re taking Aricept or continue after you’ve stopped taking it.

In Aricept studies, most side effects were mild and temporary. But in rare cases, the drug can cause serious, lasting side effects, including bleeding or stomach ulcers. Tell your doctor if you have a history of ulcers or bleeding. They’ll determine whether Aricept is safe for you.

If you have serious side effects, such as an ulcer or bleeding, while taking this drug, you may need medical treatment to manage them. And your doctor may recommend a drug other than Aricept for treating your condition.

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you have concerns about long-term side effects from Aricept.

Can Aricept cause changes in blood pressure?

Yes. In rare cases, Aricept can cause changes in blood pressure. Some people taking the drug in studies reported high blood pressure.

Taking too much Aricept can also cause low blood pressure. If you have high or low blood pressure, tell your doctor. They can tell you more about blood pressure changes with Aricept. They may also monitor you closely for any changes during your treatment.

Learn more about some of the side effects Aricept may cause.

Nausea

Nausea was a common but mild side effect reported in Aricept studies. Most people experience mild nausea that goes away with continued treatment, but severe nausea has been reported in rare cases.

What might help

Nausea is more likely to occur at the beginning of Aricept treatment and with any dose increases. If you need to have your dose adjusted, your doctor will likely increase it slowly to lower the risk of side effects such as nausea.

If you have severe nausea, call your doctor. Severe nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea can cause dehydration requiring medical attention. Your doctor may recommend switching you to a different treatment if you have ongoing or severe nausea.

Loss of appetite

Aricept may cause loss of appetite. This was a common but mild side effect reported in the drug’s studies. But people who weigh less than 55 kilograms (about 121 pounds) and experience loss of appetite may have more serious nausea, vomiting, and weight loss with Aricept.

What might help

You may have loss of appetite when starting treatment with Aricept. In most cases, this is temporary and goes away with continued treatment. However, certain people may have more serious appetite loss and other side effects that affect their weight.

If you continue to have appetite loss while taking Aricept, talk with your doctor. They can recommend ways to help manage it. In some cases, they may suggest switching you to a different treatment to avoid excessive weight loss.

Muscle cramps

Muscle cramps were a common but mild side effect reported in studies of Aricept. For most people, this was a temporary side effect that went away with continued treatment.

There may be other causes of muscle cramps, including other side effects of Aricept. For example, if you have severe nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea and become dehydrated, you may have muscle cramps.

What might help

If you experience muscle cramps that are bothersome or don’t go away, talk with your doctor. They can diagnose the cause and suggest ways to manage this side effect. Be sure to drink plenty of fluids if you have vomiting or diarrhea. This will help lower your risk of dehydration and muscle cramps.

Keeping track of side effects

During your Aricept treatment, consider taking notes on any side effects you’re having. You can then share this information with your doctor. This is especially helpful when you first start taking a new drug or using a combination of treatments.

Your side effect notes can include things such as:

  • what dose of the drug you were taking when you had the side effect
  • how soon you had the side effect after starting that dose
  • what your symptoms were
  • how your symptoms affected your daily activities
  • what other medications you were taking
  • any other information you feel is important

Taking notes and sharing them with your doctor will help them learn more about how Aricept affects you. They can then use this information to adjust your treatment plan if needed.

Aricept can sometimes cause harmful effects in people who have certain conditions. This is known as a drug-condition interaction. Other factors may also affect whether Aricept is a good treatment option for you.

Talk with your doctor about your health history before you take Aricept. Be sure to tell them if any of the following factors apply to you:

  • heart problems
  • stomach ulcers or bleeding
  • weight loss
  • lung conditions
  • bladder conditions
  • seizures
  • liver problems
  • previous allergic reaction to Aricept
  • pregnancy
  • breastfeeding
  • alcohol consumption

Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.