Prescription medication · Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitor
donepezil
Also sold as Aricept. Donepezil treats dementia in people with Alzheimer's disease.
Data updated 2026-05-15
- 35,138
- FDA reportsModerately reported
- 2
- InteractionsFew interactions
- 99% less
- Generic vs brandHuge savings
- $16.20
- Brand price (NADAC)
What the data shows
donepezil (Aricept) is a prescription Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitor, reported at a middle-of-the-pack volume (35,138 FDA reports), whose generic costs a fraction of the brand (about 99% less).
Reporting volume reflects how widely a drug is used and studied, not how dangerous it is, a FAERS report documents a temporal association, never proof of cause.
donepezil (Aricept) is a prescription Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitor. Donepezil treats dementia in people with Alzheimer's disease.
Donepezil is a medicine used to treat dementia caused by Alzheimer's disease. It can help improve memory and thinking.
Verify with FDA → · CMS NADAC pricing →
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Brand Price
$16.20/unit
Generic Price
$0.05/unit
Generic Savings
99%
Generic Available
Yes (20 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
Donepezil treats dementia in people with Alzheimer's disease.
Common side effects
Nausea, Diarrhea, Trouble sleeping
Key warnings
This medicine can slow your heart rate or cause fainting.
The sections below are summarized in plain English from donepezil's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.
How It Works
Donepezil works by increasing a chemical in the brain called acetylcholine. This chemical helps nerve cells communicate better. By increasing acetylcholine, donepezil can improve mental function in people with Alzheimer's.
How to Take It
Take donepezil once a day in the evening, right before you go to bed. You can take it with or without food. If you are taking the 23 mg tablet, do not crush, split, or chew it. Your doctor may start you on a lower dose and increase it over time.
This is a plain-language summary of donepezil's FDA labeling, not individualized dosing advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber before changing how you take this medication.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. This medicine may harm your unborn baby. It is not known if donepezil passes into breast milk, so talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding.
This is a plain-language summary of donepezil's FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber about pregnancy or breastfeeding on this medication.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time.
This is a plain-language summary of donepezil's FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber what to do about your specific missed dose.
Storage
Store donepezil at room temperature, away from moisture.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 35,138 FDA adverse event reports.
Most-reported reactions
Adverse reactions in FAERS for donepezil, by number of reports
- Falling
Falling
2,966 reports
- Death
Death
2,021 reports
- Confusion
Confusion
1,894 reports
- Diarrhea
Diarrhea
1,739 reports
- Dizziness
Dizziness
1,733 reports
- Tiredness
Tiredness
1,687 reports
- Nausea
Nausea
1,600 reports
- Seeing or hearing things that are not there
Seeing or hearing things that are not there
1,481 reports
- Weakness
Weakness
1,476 reports
- Sleepiness
Sleepiness
1,330 reports
What this shows Bars show how often each reaction was reported, not how likely it is to happen, a report records a temporal association, never proof that the drug caused it.
Reports over time
Adverse-event reports filed for donepezil each year to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).
Year-to-year volume tracks usage, prescribing, and scrutiny, not a change in per-patient risk. Source: FDA FAERS.
Where donepezil sits
donepezil has more FDA adverse-event reports than 67% of the drugs FAERS tracks. A high position reflects how widely a drug is used and watched, not how dangerous it is.
Percentile across all drugs PlainMeds tracks by FAERS report volume. The dot is donepezil; the line is the median (50th percentile).
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 35,138 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2003–2025.
Total Reports
35,138
Reports Mentioning Death
5,622
16.0% of reports — not proof of cause
Hospitalization Reports
14,136
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | FALL | 2,965 |
| 2 | DEATH | 2,020 |
| 3 | CONFUSIONAL STATE | 1,893 |
| 4 | DIARRHOEA | 1,738 |
| 5 | DIZZINESS | 1,732 |
| 6 | FATIGUE | 1,686 |
| 7 | NAUSEA | 1,599 |
| 9 | HALLUCINATION | 1,481 |
| 10 | ASTHENIA | 1,476 |
| 11 | SOMNOLENCE | 1,330 |
| 12 | VOMITING | 1,276 |
| 13 | DRUG INTERACTION | 1,205 |
| 14 | DECREASED APPETITE | 1,170 |
| 15 | DYSPNOEA | 1,069 |
| 16 | DEMENTIA | 1,062 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
This medicine can slow your heart rate or cause fainting. Tell your doctor if you have heart problems. Donepezil can also cause nausea, vomiting, and stomach bleeding. Watch for these side effects, especially when you start taking it or when your dose is increased.
Known Drug Interactions
7.2 Use with Cholinomimetics and Other Cholinesterase Inhibitors A synergistic effect may be expected when cholinesterase inhibitors are given concurrently with succinylcholine, similar neuromuscular blocking agents, or cholinergic agonists such as bethanechol.
Mechanism: Both drugs work in a similar way to increase a specific chemical in the body. Taking them together can make this effect much stronger than intended.
What to do: Your doctor should monitor you closely for side effects if these drugs are used together. They may need to adjust your dose.
( 7.1 ) Donepezil: Increases systemic exposure of ramelteon; patients should be closely monitored when ramelteon is coadministered with donepezil. Donepezil The AUC 0-inf and C max of ramelteon increased by approximately 100% and 87%, respectively upon coadministration of donepezil with ramelteon. Patients should be closely monitored when ramelteon is coadministered with donepezil [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.5) ] .
Mechanism: Donepezil makes it harder for your body to get rid of ramelteon, leading to higher levels of the drug in your blood.
What to do: Your doctor should watch you closely for increased sleepiness or other side effects while taking both drugs.
This is a plain-language summary of interactions documented in FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber before combining medications.
Common Questions
What should I do if I feel sick after taking donepezil?
Can donepezil cure Alzheimer's disease?
How long will I need to take donepezil?
Will donepezil interact with other medicines I am taking?
Can I drive while taking donepezil?
What dose of Donepezil should I take?
When should I increase my dose?
What are the inactive ingredients in the 23mg tablet?
What does the tablet look like?
What if I weigh less than 55kg?
What are the common side effects of donepezil?
Does donepezil interact with other medications?
What drug class is donepezil?
Is there a generic version of donepezil?
Is donepezil safe during pregnancy?
Related Medications in Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitor
Other drugs grouped near donepezil - same-class peers and common alternatives.
acamprosate
Campral
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alprazolam
Xanax
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amitriptyline
Elavil
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amphetamine/dextroamphetamine
Adderall, Adderall XR
Adderall XR is a stimulant medicine.
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aripiprazole
Abilify
Aripiprazole (Abilify) is a medicine used to treat certain mental disorders and mood problems.
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Medication Guides
Understanding Drug Interactions
How CYP450 enzymes, inhibitors, and inducers affect your medications
Generic vs Brand Name Drugs
FDA requirements, cost savings, and when the difference matters
Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs
Why some drugs demand precise dosing and monitoring
Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
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What the FDA Data Shows for donepezil
The FDA label for donepezil (sold under brand names such as Aricept) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitor class. Donepezil treats dementia in people with Alzheimer's disease. Official labeling lists 7 commonly reported side effects, including Nausea, Diarrhea, Trouble sleeping.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 35,138 voluntary reports. The database also lists 2 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated minor severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $0.05 versus $16.20 for the brand - a 99% generic savings.
Report counts do not establish causation, a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: November 29, 2024
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled and last refreshed May 2026. See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a correction.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book - approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed - NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) - post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm - standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files - federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database - current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages