Donepezil (Aricept)
Other names: Aricept
Donepezil is a drug used in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. It has been studied as a treatment for impaired memory in people with cognitive symptoms due to multiple sclerosis.
A small study followed 69 people with MS taking either donepezil or a placebo for 24 weeks. It found that twice as many people in the treatment group reported memory improvement (65.7%) than those on placebo (32.4%). Health professionals also reported that more people in the treatment group showed improved cognitive symptoms. However, a larger study involving 120 people with MS showed no difference in improving memory between donepezil and placebo. More gastrointestinal side effects are seen with this type of medication than with a placebo. Because there have been limited trials of donepezil in MS and the results have been mixed, the current evidence of the efficacy of donepezil on cognitive function in people with MS is unclear.
How donepezil works
Donepezil is a cholinesterase inhibitor. It is thought to work by inhibiting an enzyme which breaks down acetylcholine, which is a chemical in the central nervous system that acts as a neurotransmitter - carrying messages from nerve to nerve. Therefore, donepezil increases levels of acetylcholine.
How is donepezil given?
Donepezil is taken orally as tablets.
Side effects and contraindications
Donepezil is generally well tolerated with no serious side effects observed during the studies other than reports of unusual dreams.
Find out more
References
- Effects of donepezil on memory and cognition in multiple sclerosis. Journal of Neurological Sciences 2006;245(1-2):127-136. Summary
- Multicenter randomized clinical trial of donepezil for memory impairment in multiple sclerosis. Neurology 2011;76(17):1500-1507. Full article
- Cholinesterase inhibitors for rarer dementias associated with neurological conditions. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2015 Mar 3(3):CD009444. Summary
Share
