Donepezil side effects, medication for Alzheimer's disease by Ray Sahelian, M.D.Donepezil is a reversible inhibitor of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase. Donepezil is thought to exert its therapeutic effect by enhancing cholinergic function. This is accomplished by increasing the concentration of acetylcholine through reversible inhibition of its hydrolysis by acetylcholinesterase. If this proposed mechanism of action is correct, donepezil’s effect may lessen as the disease process advances and fewer cholinergic neurons remain functionally intact. There is no evidence that donepezil medication alters the course of the underlying dementing process. Clinical short-term trails have shown positive effects of donepezil treatment in patients with Alzheimer's disease. The outcome of continuous long-term treatment in the routine clinical settings remains to be investigated. The Swedish Alzheimer Treatment Study is a descriptive, prospective, longitudinal, multicentre study. Four hundred and thirty-five outpatients with the clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease, received treatment with donepezil. After 3 years with 38% of the patients remaining, 30% of the them were unchanged or improved in the global assessment. Conclusion: Three-year donepezil treatment showed a positive global and cognitive outcome in the routine clinical setting.
