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Donepezil Coupon - Donepezil 10mg tablet

donepezil

Generic Aricept
Used for Alzheimer's Disease, Dementia

Donepezil (Aricept) is a medication that's used to help adults with symptoms of dementia related to Alzheimer's disease (AD). It belongs to the drug class called cholinesterase inhibitors. Donepezil (Aricept) is taken once a day. It comes as both a brand-name and generic tablet that you swallow. There's also a generic orally disintegrating tablet (ODT) that melts on the tongue. Possible side effects include nausea, diarrhea, and trouble sleeping.

Reviewed by:
reviewerKristianne Hannemann, PharmD
reviewerCydnee Ng, PharmD
Last reviewed on October 30, 2025
basics-icon

What is Donepezil (Aricept)?

What is Donepezil (Aricept) used for?

How Donepezil (Aricept) works

Donepezil (Aricept) is a cholinesterase inhibitor. It's not exactly clear how it helps with memory problems and other symptoms of dementia caused by Alzheimer's disease.

The medication blocks the body from breaking down acetylcholine. Acetylcholine is a chemical in the brain has a key role in helping you learn and remember things. Raising the acetylcholine levels might help improve some symptoms of Alzheimer's-related dementia.

When does Donepezil (Aricept) start working?Time passed since treatment started:
HOURS
DAYS
WEEKS
Initial effect
MONTHS
Full effect

Drug facts

Common BrandsAricept
Drug ClassCholinesterase inhibitor
Controlled Substance ClassificationNot a controlled medication
Generic StatusLower-cost generic available
AvailabilityPrescription only
side-effects-icon

Side effects of Donepezil (Aricept)

The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.

Common Side Effects

  • Nausea (11%)
  • Diarrhea (10%)
  • Headache (10%)
  • Trouble sleeping (insomnia, 9%)
  • Pain (9%)
  • Dizziness (8%)
  • Muscle cramps (6%)
  • Tiredness (5%)
  • Vomiting (5%)
  • Loss of appetite (4%)

Less Common Side Effects

  • Bruising
  • Sleepiness
  • Fainting
  • Depression
  • Strange dreams
  • Weight loss
  • Arthritis (joint pain or swelling)
  • Urinating more often

Note: Side effects were reported by people with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease.

When do Donepezil (Aricept) possible side effects begin and end?
Time passed since treatment started:
H
D
W
M
Nausea or vomiting
Diarrhea
Loss of appetite
Risk of dizziness
Risk of having trouble sleeping
If a line continues to the right, you'll likely keep experiencing this side effect once it starts.

Source: DailyMed

The following Donepezil (Aricept) side effects have also been reported

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:

More common

Diarrhea

loss of appetite

muscle cramps

nausea

trouble in sleeping

unusual tiredness or weakness

vomiting

Less common

Abnormal dreams

constipation

dizziness

drowsiness

fainting

frequent urination

headache

joint pain, stiffness, or swelling

mental depression

pain

unusual bleeding or bruising

weight loss

Rare

Black, tarry stools

bloating

bloody or cloudy urine

blurred vision

burning, prickling, or tingling sensations

cataract

chills

clumsiness or unsteadiness

confusion

cough

decreased urination

difficult or painful urination

dryness of mouth

eye irritation

fever

flushing of skin

frequent urge to urinate

high or low blood pressure

hives

hot flashes

increase in sexual desire or performance

increased heart rate and breathing

increased sweating

increased urge to urinate during the night

irregular heartbeat

itching

loss of bladder control

loss of bowel control

mood or mental changes, including abnormal crying, aggression, agitation, delusions, irritability, nervousness, or restlessness

nasal congestion

pain in chest, upper stomach, or throat

problems with speech

runny nose

severe thirst

shortness of breath

sneezing

sore throat

sunken eyes

tightness in chest

tremor

troubled breathing

wheezing

wrinkled skin

Incidence not known

Back, leg, or stomach pains

bleeding gums

chest pain or discomfort

coma

convulsions

dark urine

difficulty breathing

fast or irregular heartbeat

fatigue

general body swelling

general tiredness and weakness

high fever

increased thirst

indigestion

light-colored stools

muscle pain or cramps

nausea and vomiting

nosebleeds

pains in stomach, side, or abdomen, possibly radiating to the back

pale skin

rash

seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there

seizures

severe muscle stiffness

severe nausea

slow or irregular heartbeat

stomach pain

sweating

swelling of face, ankles, or hands

tiredness

unusually pale skin

upper right abdominal or stomach pain

yellow eyes and skin

Symptoms of overdose

Convulsions (seizures)

increased sweating

increased watering of mouth

increasing muscle weakness

low blood pressure

severe nausea

severe vomiting

slow heartbeat

troubled breathing

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

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Pros and cons of Donepezil (Aricept)

Pros

  • First-choice treatment option for Alzheimer's disease
  • Can help with all stages of Alzheimer's disease (mild, moderate, or severe)
  • Taken once a day with or without food
  • Dissolvable pills available for some people who have trouble swallowing pills (5 mg and 10 mg only)

Cons

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Pharmacist tips for Donepezil (Aricept)

pharmacist
  • Take donepezil (Aricept) in the evening around bedtime. Taking it right before bedtime can help you sleep through some side effects like dizziness.
  • You can take donepezil (Aricept) with or without food. If you have nausea from the medication, taking it with food might help ease this side effect.
  • For the orally disintegrating tablet (ODT): Don't swallow the tablet whole. Place it on your tongue, and let the tablet dissolve. Drink a glass of water after the tablet dissolves to make sure you take your full dose.
  • Donepezil (Aricept) often causes diarrhea. If this happens, make sure to stay hydrated. Staying away from spicy, greasy, and high-fiber foods can also help with mild diarrhea. Watch for signs of dehydration and know when to get help. Ask a healthcare professional for more ways to manage diarrhea.
  • Try to avoid taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen (Advil). Taking them with donepezil (Aricept) can raise your risk of stomach ulcers and bleeding.
  • If you miss a dose of donepezil (Aricept), skip your missed dose. Wait to take your usual dose the next day. Don't take two doses at the same time to make up for a missed dose because this can raise your risk of side effects.
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Risks and warnings for Donepezil (Aricept)

Donepezil (Aricept) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.

Slower heartbeat

Medications like donepezil (Aricept) can sometimes slow down your heartbeat. This can make you feel dizzy or out of breath. In some cases, slow heartbeat can lead to fainting. Let your prescriber know if you have any falls or start to feel lightheaded while taking donepezil (Aricept). They might need to lower your dose.

Nausea and vomiting

  • Risk factors: Taking a higher dose of donepezil (Aricept) | People weighing less than 121 lbs

Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea are common side effects of donepezil (Aricept). These side effects are more common when you first start the medication and when you start a higher dose. They typically go away after a couple weeks of taking the same dose.

Tell your prescriber if you have nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea that bothers you a lot. This is important if the side effects keep you from taking your medication every day. Your prescriber can see how they can help you manage these side effects.

Stomach ulcers and bleeds

  • Risk factors: Taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) | History of stomach ulcers or bleeds | Taking the 23 mg dose of donepezil (Aricept)

Donepezil (Aricept) can raise the amount of stomach acid your body makes. Although rare, this can put you at risk of stomach ulcers and bleeds.

People who take the 23 mg dose of donepezil (Aricept) might have a higher risk of these stomach issues. NSAIDs can also raise the risk of stomach bleeding. Because of this, you should try to avoid taking NSAIDs, which are common in over-the-counter cold and pain medications, at the same time as donepezil (Aricept).

Talk to a healthcare professional if you have stomach pain, heartburn, or indigestion that gets worse while taking donepezil (Aricept). These could be signs of a stomach ulcer. Also, watch out for possible signs of stomach bleeding like red, black, or tarry stool. The healthcare professional can help figure out what's going on.

Weight loss

  • Risk factors: Taking a higher dose of donepezil (Aricept)

In studies, some people lost weight while taking donepezil (Aricept). In general, more people who took the 23 mg dose lost weight than those who took the 10 mg dose of the medication. Tell your prescriber if this worries you or if you notice unexpected weight loss.

Caution use in people with urinary problems

Medications like donepezil (Aricept) can sometimes make it harder to fully empty your bladder. Tell your prescriber if you have any trouble urinating.

Caution use in people with breathing problems

  • Risk factors: Asthma | Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

Tell your prescriber if you have breathing problems, like asthma or COPD. Medications like donepezil (Aricept) might affect breathing. Your prescriber can talk to you about the risks and benefits of taking donepezil (Aricept).

dosage-icon

Donepezil (Aricept) dosage

The average cost for 30 tablets of 10mg of Donepezil (Aricept) is $9.00 with a free GoodRx coupon. This is 0.00% off the average retail price of $9.00.
orally disintegrating tabOrally disintegrating tab
DosageQuantityPrice as low asPrice per unit
5mg90 orally disintegrating tabs$33.67$0.37
10mg90 orally disintegrating tabs$38.30$0.43
tabletTablet
DosageQuantityPrice as low asPrice per unit
10mg30 tablets$9.00$0.30
5mg30 tablets$9.00$0.30
23mg30 tablets$35.87$1.20

Typical dosage for Donepezil (Aricept)

  • Mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease: The usual starting dose is 5 mg by mouth once in the evening before bedtime. If needed, the prescriber can raise the dose up to a maximum of 10 mg each day.
  • Moderate-to-severe Alzheimer's disease: The usual starting dose is 5 mg by mouth once in the evening before bedtime. If needed, the prescriber can raise the dose up to a maximum of 23 mg each day.

The 5 mg and 10 mg doses come as tablets you swallow and orally disintegrating tablets (ODTs) that melt on your tongue. The 23 mg dose only comes as a tablet you swallow whole.

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Interactions between Donepezil (Aricept) and other drugs

Donepezil (Aricept) may interact with certain medications or supplements. Always let your doctor and pharmacist know about any other medications or supplements (including prescribed and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and dietary or herbal supplements) that you are currently taking. The list below does not include all possible drug interactions with Donepezil (Aricept). Please note that only the generic name of each medication is listed below.

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

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How much does Donepezil (Aricept) cost?

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Donepezil (Aricept) contraindications

Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because Donepezil (Aricept) will not be safe for you to take.

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What are alternatives to Donepezil (Aricept)?

There are a number of medications that your doctor can prescribe in place of Donepezil (Aricept). Compare a few possible alternatives below.
Donepezil (Aricept)
Used for:
$9.00Lowest GoodRx priceView prices
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$23.79Lowest GoodRx priceView prices
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$16.64Lowest GoodRx priceView prices
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News about Donepezil (Aricept)

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Donepezil (Aricept) images

Peach Round 10 - Donepezil Hydrochloride 10mg Tablet
This medicine is Peach, Round Tablet Imprinted With "10".Peach Round 10 - Donepezil Hydrochloride 10mg Tablet
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This medicine is Yellow, Round Tablet Imprinted With "Ml 88".Yellow Round Ml 88 - Donepezil Hydrochloride 10mg Tablet
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This medicine is Yellow, Round Tablet Imprinted With "Sg" And "140".Yellow Round Sg And 140 - Donepezil Hydrochloride 10mg Tablet
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This medicine is Yellow, Round Tablet Imprinted With "Hh210".Yellow Round Hh210 - Donepezil Hydrochloride 10mg Tablet
Yellow Round L 161 - Donepezil Hydrochloride 10mg Tablet
This medicine is Yellow, Round Tablet Imprinted With "L 161".Yellow Round L 161 - Donepezil Hydrochloride 10mg Tablet

References

Best studies we found

Agboton, C., et al. (2014). Impact of nighttime donepezil administration on sleep in the older adult population: A retrospective study. Mental Health Clinician.

Camber Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (2025). DONEPEZIL- donepezil hydrochloride tablet [package insert]. DailyMed.

Chen, Z. R., et al. (2022). Role of cholinergic signaling in Alzheimer’s disease. Molecules.

GoodRx Health has strict sourcing policies and relies on primary sources such as medical organizations, governmental agencies, academic institutions, and peer-reviewed scientific journals. Learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate, thorough, and unbiased by reading our editorial guidelines.