Severe Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients treated with ARICEPT® (donepezil HCl tablets) showed significant improvement in global function, cognition, behavior, and activities of daily living versus placebo, according to new data from a subset analysis of the Moderate to Severe Alzheimer’s Disease Study (MSAD), previously published in Neurology in August 2001.

Since Alzheimer’s disease is commonly a slow process, the disease affects people differently and therefore individuals respond to different treatments uniquely. Currently, there is no drug or treatment program that stops the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. However, for individuals who are in mild, and middle stages of the disease, certain drugs have proven successful.

Aricept is one of a group of drugs called “cholinesterase inhibitors” which is used to treat symptoms in people with mild to moderate and advanced Alzheimer’s disease. 

For people who are treating Alzheimer’s disease with Aricept, dosage recommendations start at 5 mg once a day. After several weeks of treatment, your healthcare provider may choose to increase your dose to 10 mg. Your daily Aricept dosage, which should not exceed 10 mg, should be taken at bedtime, with or without food.

The Health Daly News reports that Aricept (donepezil hydrochloride) has been approved by the FDA to treat severe dementia associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Although Aricept was approved over 10 years ago to help mild to moderate Alzheimer’s symptoms, it is now the only drug approved to treat all forms of the memory debilitating disease.