Patient/caregiver was educated on precautions to be exercised while taking Aricept as follows:
- Aricept interacts with a lot of medications, thus leading to many side-effects and influencing their function. If you are being newly started on Aricept, discuss with your physician regarding all your current medications and their safety with Aricept. Also, notify your physician regarding any current Aricept intake, if you are being started on any new medications and discuss their safety with Aricept.
- Potentiation of acetylcholine action in the body, secondary to Aricept use, can result in severe gastrointestinal upset, increased acid secretion in stomach, worsening of heartburn and burning sensation in the stomach, and can result in the formation of gastric ulcers. Avoid taking Aricept concurrently with NSAIDs, such as, Aspirin and Advil, as these medications also can contribute to gastrointestinal upset, burning sensation in the stomach, and formation of gastric ulcers. While you are on Aricept, closely observe for findings of internal bleeding, such as, black tarry stools, vomit that looks like coffee grounds, red colored urine, and frank bleeding per rectum, and report to your doctor immediately, so that, a change in plan could be considered.
- If you miss a dose, try taking it at the earliest notice of noncompliance. If it is time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take the dose scheduled. Do not take an extra dose to try making up for the missed dose. Notify your doctor and other health care personnel regarding your dose noncompliance.
