Medicines labeled for the same conditions
Alternatives to donepezil
3 other medicines are given the same way (oral) and in the same FDA class as donepezil or labeled mainly for the same use (alzheimer's disease); 2 are in its class, cholinesterase inhibitors: rivastigmine and galantamine; the others include 1 n-methyl-d-aspartate receptor antagonist (FDA labels read October 8, 2026). In the same class, the lowest pharmacy cost is $0.164 per rivastigmine 1.5 mg capsule (what pharmacies paid in the NADAC survey; strengths differ).
Which medicines are labeled for the same conditions as donepezil?
Alzheimer's disease lists all 7 medicines labeled for it, by any route. Each row shows the conditions both labels name. They are listed as public records, not as substitutes: whether one can replace another depends on the person and is a prescriber's decision.
| Medicine and FDA class | Shared indication | Generic labelers (oral) | Pharmacy cost | Boxed warning | Shortage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Donepezilcholinesterase inhibitor | this medicine | 31 labelers | $0.0484 per tablet 10 mg tablet | No | No current entry |
| Rivastigminecholinesterase inhibitor · same class | Alzheimer's disease | 11 labelers | $0.164 per capsule 1.5 mg capsule | No | A presentation being discontinued |
| Galantaminecholinesterase inhibitor · same class | Alzheimer's disease | 9 labelers | $0.294 per tablet 4 mg tablet | No | No current entry |
| Memantinen-methyl-d-aspartate receptor antagonist | Alzheimer's disease | 38 labelers | $0.063 per tablet 10 mg tablet | No | No current entry |
Source: FDA drug labels (indications) via openFDA; FDA NDC Directory; CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026; FDA Drug Shortage Database (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What do pharmacies pay for each?
The headline NADAC price per unit of each medicine's most widely listed form; strengths differ, so compare like with like on each record.
Source: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC) survey, October 7, 2026: what retail pharmacies paid per unit; not a counter price
What next?
- Donepezil: the full record
- label, generics, price, shortages, recalls
- Donepezil vs rivastigmine
- two records side by side
- Donepezil vs galantamine
- two records side by side
- Memantine vs donepezil
- two records side by side