Always follow the instructions that come with your medicine.
Dosage
Donepezil comes as 5mg or 10mg tablets.
If you're taking liquid donepezil, a 5ml spoonful contains 5mg of medicine (1mg/1ml).
The usual starting dose of donepezil is 5mg (one tablet or one 5ml spoonful of liquid), taken once a day.
After a month, the doctor may increase your dose to 10mg (one 10mg tablet or two, 5ml spoonfuls of liquid), taken once a day.
How to take it
It's best to take your donepezil at bedtime. This is because you may feel dizzy after you take it.
If donepezil gives you bad dreams or makes it hard to sleep, you can take it in the morning instead.
Standard tablets
Swallow your donepezil tablet with a drink of water.
Dissolvable tablets
Donepezil also comes as a tablet that melts in your mouth (orodispersible tablet).
Put the tablet on your tongue and let it dissolve until it's gone. You can then swallow it without a drink. You can have a drink of water afterwards if you need to.
Donepezil liquid
Use the plastic spoon that comes with your medicine to measure out your dose. If you do not have a measuring spoon, ask a pharmacist for one. Do not use a kitchen teaspoon as it will not measure the right amount.
Swallow the liquid donepezil. You can have a drink of water afterwards if you need to.
How long to take it for
You, or the person you're caring for, will have regular check-ups with a doctor to see whether donepezil is still helping.
The effects may wear off a bit around 6 to 12 months after you start taking it. Your symptoms may start to gradually get worse again, even if you're still taking donepezil.
Talk to your doctor if you're worried that donepezil is no longer working.
The medicine is probably still helping and if you stop taking it your symptoms could become even worse.
If you forget to take it
If you forget a dose of donepezil, skip the missed dose and take the next one at the normal time the next day.
Do not take 2 doses to make up for a forgotten dose.
If you've forgotten to take your donepezil for more than a week, talk to your doctor before you take any more.
If you forget doses often, it may help to set an alarm to remind you. You could also ask a doctor, pharmacist or dementia support group for advice on other ways to help you remember to take your medicine.
If you take too much
The amount of donepezil that can cause an overdose varies from person to person.
Urgent advice: Contact 111 for advice now if:
- you take more than your usual dose of donepezil
Go to 111.nhs.uk or call 111
Immediate action required: Call 999 or go to A&E now if:
you take more than your usual dose of donepezil and you:
- feel dizzy or sick, or you're being sick
- start drooling or sweating a lot
- have a slow heart rate
- start having breathing problems
- faint or have a seizure or fit
If you need to go to A&E, do not drive yourself. Get someone else to drive you or call for an ambulance.
Take the donepezil packet, or the leaflet inside it, plus any remaining medicine with you.