Product Details

What you need to know before you take Donepezil Hydrochloride

Do not take Donepezil Hydrochloride • if you are allergic to donepezil hydrochloride, or piperidine derivatives, or to any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6). Warnings and precautions Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Donepezil Hydrochloride, if you have or have had: • stomach or duodenal ulcers • seizures (fits) or convulsions • a heart condition (such as irregular or very slow heart beat, heart failure, myocardial infarction) • a heart condition called ‘prolonged QT interval’ or a history of certain abnormal heart rhythms called Torsade de Pointes or if anyone in your family have ‘prolonged QT interval’ • low levels of magnesium or potassium in your blood • asthma or other long term lung disease • liver problems or hepatitis • difficulty passing urine or mild kidney disease Donepezil Hydrochloride can be used in patients with kidney disease or mild to moderate liver disease. Tell your doctor first if you have kidney or liver disease. Patients with severe liver disease should not take Donepezil Hydrochloride. Other medicines and Donepezil Hydrochloride Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines. In particular it is important to tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following types of medicines:: • medicines for heart rhythm problems e.g. amiodarone, sotalol • medicines for depression e.g. citalopram, escitalopram, amitriptyline, fluoxetine • medicines for psychosis e.g. pimozide, sertindole, ziprasidone • medicines for bacterial infections e.g. clarithromycin, erythromycin, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, rifampicin • anti-fungal medicines e.g. ketoconazole • other Alzheimer’s disease medicines, e.g. galantamine • pain killers or treatment for arthritis e.g. aspirin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) drugs such as ibuprofen, or diclofenac sodium • anticholinergics medicines, e.g. tolterodine • anticonvulsants e.g. phenytoin, carbamazepine • medication for a heart condition e.g. quinidine, beta-blockers (propanolol and atenolol) • muscle relaxants e.g. diazepam, succinylcholine • general anaesthetic • medicines obtained without a prescription e.g. herbal remedies If you are going to have an operation that requires you to have a general anaesthetic, you should tell your doctor and the anaesthetist that you are taking Donepezil Hydrochloride. This is because your medicine may affect the amount of anaesthetic needed. Donepezil Hydrochloride with food, drink and alcohol Food will not influence the effect of Donepezil Hydrochloride. Donepezil Hydrochloride should not be taken with alcohol because alcohol may change its effect. Pregnancy, breast-feeding and fertility Donepezil Hydrochloride should not be used during pregnancy unless clearly necessary. Donepezil Hydrochloride should not be used while breastfeeding. If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine. Driving and using machines Alzheimer’s disease may impair your ability to drive or operate machinery and you must not perform these activities unless your doctor tells you that it is safe to do so. Also, your medicine can cause tiredness, dizziness and muscle cramp. If you experience any of these effects you must not drive or operate machinery. Donepezil Hydrochloride contains lactose This medicine contains lactose. If you have been told by your doctor