Donep-M

Donepezil is recommended to be taken before going to bed to reduce gastrointestinal side effects or nausea, which is commonly seen in some patients in the first few weeks of treatment.

Gastrointestinal side effects may appear during the first few weeks of treatment with Donepezil. This can be minimized by taking Donepezil at bedtime and with food. Generally, these side effects are mild and disappear within a few weeks with continued treatment.

Within the first month of treatment with Donepezil, you may experience improvement in thinking and remembering (cognitive effect). However, it may take about 12 weeks to see the full benefits.

Do not stop Donepezil without consulting your doctor. This medicine only helps to control your condition but does not cure it. Therefore, it may take several weeks to show benefits, so do not be discouraged if you do not see an improvement straight away. But, in case your condition starts worsening and you feel that it is no longer helping you, then you should consult a doctor before stopping it.

Donepezil gets removed from the body very slowly. It takes about two weeks or more for Donepezil to be completely removed from the system.

No, Donepezil does not cause depression. If you are experiencing symptoms, then it could be due to existing Alzheimer’s disease.

Taking more than the recommended dose of Donepezil may cause vomiting, increased sweating or saliva production, slow heartbeat, dizziness, difficulty in breathing, seizures or fits, weakness, low blood pressure, convulsions, and inability to control your bowel motions or passing of urine (incontinence). You should seek immediate help from a doctor or emergency service of a nearby hospital.

Donepezil does not interfere with the working of indomethacin, but indomethacin individually increases the risk of stomach bleeding when taken for a long time. Therefore, if you experience any symptoms of stomach bleeding, consult your doctor immediately.

Hallucinations are a common side effect of Donepezil, though not everyone is affected. Other common psychiatric side effects include agitation, aggressive behavior, nightmares, and abnormal dreams.

Donepezil should not be taken by patients who have hypersensitivity to Donepezil hydrochloride, piperidine derivatives, or to any active ingredients used in the medicine. Also, it should not be used during pregnancy unless clearly necessary.

Yes, insomnia (sleeplessness) is a common side effect of Donepezil. Dizziness and fainting can also be seen as common side effects. Though these side effects are common, they do not occur in everyone.

No, Memantine does not have abuse potential. On the contrary, it may prevent excess use of addictive drugs such as morphine or ethanol.

Dementia is a syndrome in which there is deterioration in memory, thinking, behavior, and the ability to perform everyday activities. Dementia is one of the major causes of disability and dependency among older people worldwide. Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia which contributes to around 60 to 70% of cases.

The symptoms which can be observed due to an overdose of Memantine include tiredness, weakness, drowsiness, confusion, hallucinations, and/or vomiting. Some may also experience diarrhea, vertigo, agitation, aggression, and walking difficulty.

Yes, Memantine can be combined with donepezil, as there will be no increased adverse effects. However, this combination will not cure Alzheimer's, but it can only improve thinking ability, short term memory, and other related symptoms.

Yes, Memantine may interfere with the working of hydrochlorothiazide (HCT). It decreases the levels of HCT which will reduce the effectiveness of HCT. Also, procainamide and quinidine may increase levels of Memantine which may cause increased toxicity.

Memantine belongs to a class of medications called N-methyl-D- aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists. It works by decreasing abnormal activity in the brain. Memantine may improve the ability to think and remember. It may also reduce the deterioration of these abilities in people who have Alzheimer's disease. However, with time the effectiveness of this medicine will reduce and it may not be able to cure Alzheimer's disease or prevent the loss of these abilities.

Memantine should be taken orally once a day. To benefit from your medicine you should take it regularly every day at the same time of the day. The tablets should be swallowed with some water. The tablets can be taken with or without food.

No, Memantine should not be stopped even if you feel well. This medicine only helps to control the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease but does not cure it. If you need to stop the medication then doctor should be consulted first.

Memantine belongs to a group of medicines called NMDA receptor antagonists. NMDA receptors are involved in the transmission of nerve signals within the brain such as in learning and memory. This medicine works by protecting NMDA receptors in the brain against high levels of the chemical glutamate, which could be the cause of brain degeneration. By doing so, Memantine may eventually improve your thinking capacity and your ability to remember.

For Memantine to start working and show its full benefits, it may require between 3 and 8 hours. The doctor may require a follow-up clinical assessment to check the progress after 4 weeks and then 6 months after the first assessment.

Yes, Memantine may make you sleepy. Memantine has minor to moderate influence on the ability to drive and usage of machines. In such cases, outpatients should be warned to take special care.