Cholinergic Drugs • Useful in treating Alzheimer’s Disease, Myasthenia gravis and to tx atony of the smooth muscle of the GI system or urinary Aricept (donepezil hydrochloride) is a cholinesterase inhibitor that reduces or prevents acetylcholine breakdown in brain tissue. Aricept is used to treat mild to moderate dementia like that found in patients with Alzheimer's disease. In these studies, the side effects of paxil side effects that occur in a group side effects of paxil of people taking the drug are documented and are then compared to side effects that occur in another group of people not taking the medicine. People who have bladder control problems have trouble stopping the flow of urine from the bladder. This problem is also called urinary incontinence. Read about bladder control medications. Most Common Adverse Reactions. The most common adverse reactions, defined as those occurring at a frequency of at least 5% in patients receiving 10 mg/day and twice the placebo rate, are largely predicted by Aricept’s cholinomimetic effects. ARICEPT is available for oral administration in film-coated tablets containing 5, 10, or 23 mg of donepezil hydrochloride. Inactive ingredients in 5 mg and 10 mg tablets are lactose monohydrate, corn starch, microcrystalline cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, and magnesium stearate. Initially, 5 mg PO once daily. Upward titration to 10 mg PO once daily should not occur for at least 4 to 6 weeks. The effective dose range is 5 to 10 mg/day PO. Film-coated tablet. ARICEPT 5 mg film coated tablets are white, round, biconvex tablets debossed 'ARICEPT' on one side and '5' on the other side. (Detail-Document 240510: Page 3 of 4) Copyright © 2008 by Therapeutic Research Center Pharmacist’s Letter / Prescriber’s Letter ~ P.O. Box 8190, Learn about the potential side effects of Aricept (donepezil). Includes common and rare side effects information for consumers and healthcare professionals.