Aricept interactions: Alcohol, medications, and other factors

Aricept (donepezil) is a brand-name prescription drug used to treat dementia related to Alzheimer’s disease. As with other medications, Aricept can interact with certain other drugs and supplements. An interaction occurs when one substance causes another substance to have a different effect than expected.

For details about Aricept’s interactions, keep reading. For additional information about Aricept, including details about its benefits and uses, see this article. To learn more about taking Aricept without having Alzheimer’s, talk with your doctor.

In some cases, factors or conditions could prevent your doctor from prescribing Aricept due to the risk of harm. These are known as contraindications. The contraindications of Aricept include:

Having had an allergic reaction to Aricept or any of its ingredients

If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Aricept or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Aricept. Taking the drug could cause another allergic reaction. You can ask them about other treatments that may be better choices for you.

Note: Before you start treatment with Aricept, it’s important to tell your doctor if this contraindication applies to you. They can determine whether to prescribe Aricept.

Aricept isn’t known to interact with alcohol.

However, keep in mind that drinking alcohol while taking the drug could worsen some of Aricept’s side effects. Examples include nausea and vomiting. (For details about possible side effects of Aricept, see this article.)

If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor before taking Aricept. They can recommend whether you should limit the amount of alcohol you drink during Aricept treatment.

Before you start treatment with Aricept, tell your doctor and pharmacist which prescription, over-the-counter, and other medications you take. By sharing this information with them, you may help prevent possible interactions. (To learn whether Aricept interacts with supplements, herbs, or vitamins, see the “Aricept and other interactions” section below.)

If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Here’s a table of drugs that can interact with Aricept. Keep in mind that this table doesn’t include all drugs that may interact with Aricept. Some of these interactions are described in detail just below in “Drug interactions in depth.”

* To learn more about Aricept’s side effects, see this article.

Here’s a closer look at certain drug interactions of Aricept.

Certain anesthesia drugs

Anesthesia drugs help prevent pain during surgery or certain procedures, such as dental procedures.

Interaction result. Taking Aricept with certain anesthesia drugs can make Aricept less effective.

Interaction explained. Aricept’s mechanism of action (how it works) is to prevent acetylcholine from breaking down. (Acetylcholine is a chemical that’s thought to play a role in brain function.) Certain anesthesia drugs may prevent acetylcholine from being released into the body.

Without acetylcholine present, Aricept is unable to break down this chemical. As a result, the drug is less effective at treating your condition.

Examples of anesthesia drugs. Here are some anesthesia drugs that may interact with Aricept:

• lidocaine (Xylocaine)
• prilocaine
• mepivacaine (Carbocaine, Polocaine, others)

Steps you or your doctor may take. Talk with your doctor about any planned surgeries or procedures you have. They can tell you whether the procedure requires an anesthesia drug. And if so, they can tell you whether it’s safe to receive the anesthesia drug while you’re taking Aricept.

In some cases, your doctor may temporarily adjust your Aricept dosage around the time of your procedure. Doing so could help Aricept continue to work as well as it usually does while you’re receiving an anesthesia drug. For details about Aricept’s dosage, see this article.

Antihistamines

Antihistamines are medications that are often used to ease allergy symptoms. They can also be used for other conditions, such as motion sickness.

Interaction result. Taking Aricept with antihistamines can make either drug less effective.

Interaction explained. Aricept works by preventing acetylcholine from breaking down in your body. (Acetylcholine is a chemical that’s thought to play a role in brain function.) Antihistamines work by blocking the effects of acetylcholine in the body.

So, if taken together, Aricept and antihistamines could block each other’s effects. And this could prevent Aricept and the antihistamine from working as they should.

Examples of antihistamine drugs. Here are some antihistamines that may interact with Aricept:

• diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
• meclizine (Antivert)
• doxylamine (Unisom)

Steps you or your doctor may take. If you’re interested in a treatment for allergies or motion sickness while taking Aricept, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can help you avoid antihistamine products and recommend alternative treatments for your condition.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are used to treat pain, inflammation, and fever.

Interaction result. Taking Aricept with an NSAID can increase the risk of side effects with Aricept and NSAIDs.

Interaction explained. Aricept and NSAIDs may cause stomach ulcers or bleeding as side effects. Taking these medications together can increase the risk of these side effects even further. (To learn more about Aricept’s side effects, see this article.)

Examples of NSAIDs. Here are some NSAIDs that may interact with Aricept:

• ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin)
• naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn)
• meloxicam (Mobic)

Steps you or your doctor may take. If you’re looking for treatment options for pain, inflammation, or fever while taking Aricept, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can help you decide on another medication or treatment option for your condition.

Aricept may have other interactions, such as with supplements, foods, vaccines, or even lab tests. You’ll find details below. Keep in mind that the following information doesn’t include all other possible interactions with Aricept.

Aricept interactions with supplements

Before you start treatment with Aricept, tell your doctor and pharmacist which supplements, herbs, and vitamins you take. By sharing this information with them, you may help prevent possible interactions.

If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Aricept interactions with herbs

Aricept may interact with the herbal supplement St. John’s wort. This supplement is often used to help treat depression and other conditions. Taking Aricept with St. John’s wort could make Aricept less effective.

Before taking St. John’s wort or any herbal supplement with Aricept, talk with your doctor. They can tell you whether it’s safe to take the supplement in combination with Aricept.

Aricept and vitamins

There are no specific reports of vitamins interacting with Aricept. However, that doesn’t mean vitamin interactions won’t occur or be recognized in the future. Because of this, you should talk with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any vitamin product with Aricept.

Aricept and food

There were no reports of food interactions with Aricept. If you’d like to learn more about eating certain foods during treatment with Aricept, talk with your doctor.

Aricept and vaccines

There were no reports of vaccine interactions with Aricept. If you’d like to learn more about getting certain vaccines while taking Aricept, talk with your doctor.

Aricept and lab tests

There were no reports of lab tests interacting with Aricept. If you’d like to learn more about getting specific lab tests during Aricept treatment, talk with your doctor.

ARICEPT AND CANNABIS OR CBD

Cannabis (often called marijuana) and cannabis products, such as cannabidiol (CBD), have not been specifically reported to interact with Aricept. However, as with any drug or supplement, talk with your doctor before using cannabis in combination with Aricept. The impact of cannabis may affect how well you stick to your Aricept treatment plan.

Note: Cannabis is illegal at a federal level but is legal in many states to varying degrees.

Certain medical conditions and other factors may increase the risk of interactions with Aricept. Before you take this drug, be sure to talk with your doctor about your health history. Aricept may not be the right treatment option if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health.

Health conditions or factors that might interact with Aricept include:

• Heart problems. Aricept may cause certain heart problems as a side effect.* Examples include heart block and abnormal heart rhythm. Your risk for these side effects may be higher if you already have a heart problem, such as abnormal heart rhythm. Before taking Aricept, be sure to tell your doctor if you have a heart problem. They can recommend whether Aricept is a safe treatment option for you.
• Lung problems. Before starting Aricept treatment, tell your doctor about any lung problems you have. Examples include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma. Because of the way Aricept works in your body, the drug may worsen these conditions. If you have a lung problem, your doctor can tell you whether it’s safe to take Aricept.
• Seizures.Aricept may cause seizures as a side effect.* Before taking Aricept, tell your doctor if you’ve ever had seizures. They can tell you whether Aricept is a safe treatment option for you.
• Stomach ulcers. If you have a stomach ulcer or have had one in the past, talk with your doctor before taking Aricept. Because of the way Aricept works in your body, the drug may worsen this condition. Your doctor can advise whether Aricept is the right treatment option for you.
• Planned surgery or dental procedure. Talk with your doctor about any planned surgeries or dental procedures you have. Aricept may interact with certain medications used for anesthesia during these procedures. To learn more, see the “Drug interactions in depth” section above.
• Body weight of less than 55 kg (about 121 lb). Your doctor may check your body weight before starting Aricept treatment. People who weigh less than 55 kilograms (kg), or about 121 pounds (lb), may have a higher risk of side effects* with Aricept. To learn more about how body weight impacts the risk of side effects with Aricept, talk with your doctor.
• Pregnancy. It’s not known whether Aricept is safe to take while pregnant. If you’re pregnant or planning a pregnancy, talk with your doctor before taking this medication.
• Breastfeeding. It’s not known whether Aricept passes into breast milk or if the drug causes side effects in a child who is breastfed. To learn more about taking Aricept while breastfeeding, talk with your doctor.
• Allergic reaction. If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Aricept or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Aricept. Taking the drug could cause another allergic reaction. You can ask them about other treatments that may be better choices for you.

* To learn more about Aricept’s side effects, see this article.

You can take certain steps to help prevent interactions with Aricept. Your doctor and pharmacist are key resources, so talk with them before starting treatment. For example, you should plan to do the following:

• Let them know if you drink alcohol.
• Tell them about any other medications you take, as well as any supplements, herbs, and vitamins.
• Create a medication list, which your doctor and pharmacist can help you fill out.

It’s also important to read the Aricept label and other paperwork that may come with the drug. The label may have colored stickers that mention an interaction. And the paperwork, sometimes called the medication guide or patient package insert, may contain details about interactions. (If Aricept doesn’t come with paperwork, you can ask your pharmacist to print a copy.) If you need help reading or understanding this information, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

You can also help prevent interactions with Aricept by taking it exactly as your doctor prescribes.

Besides learning about interactions, you may want to find out more about Aricept. These resources might help:

• Overview of Aricept. For a general overview of Aricept, you can see this article.
• Dosage specifics. To learn about the dosage of Aricept, see this article.
• Facts about dementia. To learn more about dementia, see our dementia hub.

Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.