Mild to Moderate Alzheimer's Disease
The dosages of ARICEPT® shown to be effective in controlled
clinical trials are 5 mg and 10 mg administered once per day.
The higher dose of 10 mg did not provide a statistically significantly greater clinical
benefit than 5 mg. There is a suggestion, however, based upon order of group mean
scores and dose trend analyses of data from these clinical trials, that a daily
dose of 10 mg of ARICEPT® might provide additional benefit
for some patients. Accordingly, whether or not to employ a dose of 10 mg is a matter
of prescriber and patient preference.
Severe Alzheimer's Disease
ARICEPT® has been shown to be effective in controlled
clinical trials at a dose of 10 mg administered once daily.
Evidence from the controlled trials indicates that the 10 mg dose, with a one week
titration, is likely to be associated with a higher incidence of cholinergic adverse
events than the 5 mg dose. In open label trials using a 6 week titration, the frequency
of these same adverse events was similar between the 5 mg and 10 mg dose groups.
Therefore, because steady state is not achieved for 15 days and because the incidence
of untoward effects may be influenced by the rate of dose escalation, treatment
with a dose of 10 mg should not be contemplated until patients have been on a daily
dose of 5 mg for 4 to 6 weeks.
ARICEPT® should be taken in the evening, just prior to
retiring. ARICEPT® can be taken with or without food.
Allow ARICEPT® ODT tablet to dissolve on the tongue and
follow with water.