Donepezil
In brief
- In our pharmacy, you can buy donepezil without a prescription, with delivery in 9–21 days throughout the United Kingdom. Discreet and anonymous packaging.
- Donepezil is used to treat symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease (mild to moderate, and in some cases moderate to severe) and works as an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, increasing acetylcholine levels in the brain.
- The usual dosage is 5 mg once daily (usually at bedtime) initially, increasing to 10 mg once daily after 4–6 weeks if tolerated.
- The form of administration is oral (film-coated tablets or orodispersible tablets).
- The effect begins pharmacologically within hours, but clinical improvement is usually noticed within 4–6 weeks of starting treatment.
- The duration of action supports once-daily dosing (single-dose effects last about 24 hours); the elimination half-life is long (around 70 hours) and steady state is reached after several days of continuous dosing.
- Do not consume excessive alcohol; alcohol can worsen dizziness, drowsiness, gastrointestinal upset and increase fall risk while taking donepezil.
- The most common side effect is nausea.
- Would you like to try donepezil without a prescription?
Basic donepezil information
- INN (international nonproprietary name): Donepezil
- Brand names available in the United Kingdom: Aricept, Aricept Evess (orodispersible tablets); generic donepezil
- ATC code: N06DA02
- Forms and dosages: film-coated tablets 5 mg and 10 mg; orodispersible tablets 5 mg and 10 mg
- Registration status in the United Kingdom: authorised by the MHRA; prescription-only medicine (POM)
- OTC / Rx classification: Prescription-only medicine (POM)
Legal status and availability in the UK
Donepezil is a prescription-only medicine (POM) in the UK.
In our online pharmacy, donepezil is available without a prescription, with discreet delivery to the United Kingdom in 9–21 days.
What donepezil is used for
Donepezil (ATC N06DA02) belongs to the anticholinesterase group and is licensed for the symptomatic treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. It is used to manage cognitive symptoms rather than to cure the underlying disease.
Benefit is usually modest and gradual: carers often judge it by small but meaningful differences in daily routine, such as steadier mornings and slightly better short‑term recall, rather than by dramatic memory recovery. Improvement must be judged alongside side effects and overall wellbeing.
In the UK, treatment is usually started by a memory clinic specialist, with repeat prescribing by the GP under shared‑care arrangements on the NHS.
Forms and strengths
| Formulation | Strengths | Administration |
|---|---|---|
| Film-coated tablet | 5mg, 10mg | Oral, with water |
| Orodispersible tablet (ODT) | 5mg, 10mg | Oral (dissolves on the tongue) |
Orodispersible tablets are particularly useful for patients with swallowing difficulties or for care-home use.
Dosing and how to take donepezil
Adults generally start at 5mg once daily, usually at bedtime, and increase to 10mg once daily after 4–6 weeks if tolerated. The benefit and tolerability should be re-evaluated regularly, and treatment continued long-term if helpful.
- Tablets: swallow with water once daily, preferably at night to lessen nausea and insomnia.
- ODTs: place on the tongue and allow to dissolve; no water required.
- Missed dose: take the next dose at the usual time and do not double up.
An overdose can be harmful. Symptoms include severe nausea, vomiting, sweating, bradycardia and seizures, so seek medical help promptly (NHS 111, or 999 in an emergency). Hospital treatment is supportive and may include intravenous atropine.
Contraindications and cautions
Donepezil must not be used in people with known hypersensitivity to donepezil hydrochloride, piperidine derivatives or any excipient.
| Caution | Monitoring |
|---|---|
| Cardiac conduction abnormalities (e.g. sick sinus syndrome) | Check pulse; ECG if symptomatic bradycardia |
| Asthma or COPD | Monitor respiratory symptoms |
| Active peptic ulcer disease | Watch for GI bleeding; gastroprotection may be considered |
| Urinary outflow obstruction | Monitor urinary retention |
| Seizure disorders | Monitor seizure frequency and discuss with the prescriber |
Side effects
- Gastrointestinal: nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting and anorexia are common and a frequent cause of early discontinuation.
- CNS: insomnia, headache, dizziness, fatigue and vivid dreams occur frequently.
- Muscle cramps and general weakness are reported in some patients.
Taking the dose at bedtime, dose reduction if needed and short-term antiemetics where appropriate can help. Hydration and nutritional support matter for those with anorexia or weight loss.
Seek urgent medical attention for persistent fainting, severe bradycardia or any seizure. Report signs of gastrointestinal bleeding, such as black stools or severe abdominal pain, without delay, and stop the medicine and seek emergency assessment if a severe allergic reaction is suspected.
Interactions
| Severity | Interacting medicines | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Anticholinergics (opposite effect) | Anticholinergics may reduce efficacy; review the need with the prescriber |
| Major | Beta-blockers and some calcium-channel blockers (additive bradycardia) | Check pulse; ECG if symptomatic; the prescriber may adjust doses |
| Moderate | CYP2D6 / CYP3A4 inhibitors or inducers (may alter plasma levels) | Monitoring and dose review by the prescriber |
| Moderate | NSAIDs (increased GI bleeding risk) | Be aware of bleeding risk; gastroprotection may be needed |
Tell the prescriber about all other medicines, including over-the-counter antihistamines and herbal remedies, and any cardiovascular drugs that could lower heart rate.
Special populations
Elderly patients: most clinical experience is in patients aged 65 and over. No routine initial dose adjustment is required for age alone, but frailty increases the risk of adverse effects, so slower titration or extra monitoring may be considered for frail patients and those with low body weight.
Donepezil is not recommended in children as safety and efficacy are not established. Pregnancy and breastfeeding data are limited, and use should be on a risk–benefit basis after specialist discussion.
Donepezil can cause dizziness and fainting, so take care with driving; seek advice if symptoms occur.
Alternatives and switching
Rivastigmine (oral or patch) and galantamine are other cholinesterase inhibitors that may be considered when donepezil is not tolerated. Memantine is an alternative or adjunct for moderate-to-severe disease.
When switching, the reason (intolerance, lack of benefit or logistics) should be assessed and the alternative started per specialist advice; overlap or washout follows prescriber guidance. Stopping donepezil does not require routine tapering, but cognitive or behavioural decline should be monitored after cessation.
Storage and disposal
- Store at room temperature (15–30°C), dry and away from direct light, out of reach of children.
- Keep orodispersible tablets dry until use.
- Return unused medicine to a pharmacy for safe disposal.
When to seek help
- Persistent fainting or collapse.
- Severe or worsening bradycardia or palpitations.
- Seizures or sudden severe neurological change.
- Signs of GI bleeding such as black stools or vomiting blood.
Attend emergency services in these situations; NHS 111 can advise on non-urgent concerns.
Delivery across the United Kingdom
| City | Region | Delivery Time |
|---|---|---|
| London | England | 9–21 days |
| Birmingham | England | 9–21 days |
| Manchester | England | 9–21 days |
| Glasgow | Scotland | 9–21 days |
| Leeds | England | 9–21 days |
| Bristol | England | 9–21 days |
| Liverpool | England | 9–21 days |
| Edinburgh | Scotland | 9–21 days |
| Sheffield | England | 9–21 days |
| Newcastle Upon Tyne | England | 9–21 days |
| Belfast | Northern Ireland | 9–21 days |
| Cardiff | Wales | 9–21 days |
| Nottingham | England | 9–21 days |
| Leicester | England | 9–21 days |
