DH has severe rash since taking Donepezil

Bailey's Mom

DH was diagnosed with early onset alz about 6 months ago. He is tolerating Donepezil, although he did have headaches initially. He does have a severe rash on his chest and back which the VA has diagnosed as Grover's Disease. I am wondering if this could be a side effect of Donepezil. Anyone else experiencing this?

Dio

Not sure what's causing the rash, but Donepezil didn't have that effect on my DH.

Carl46

My wife has taken Donepezil since 2017 with no side effects. She had a rash a couple of years ago, but meds for hyperthyroid fixed it, so it was unrelated to Donepezil.

JDancer

Rashes are a common reaction to medication allergies. I would look closely at the timing and talk to the prescribing doctor

Bailey's Mom

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/228492#Comment_228492

That's what I think too…he's never had a problem with rashes before so it's a little too coincidental.

AlzWife2023

My DH has irritation, rash-like on the spots where I place his daily rivastigmine patch. He did not at first, but when we upped the dose his skin reacted so we went back down but the reactions remain. Doc said just use hydrocortisone but that’s not really helping. I mention this b/c it’s the same type of medicine. DH could not tolerate the Donepezil tablet. It made him dizzy & nauseous and anorexc. He tolerates the low dose patch which I think has helped him engage more in conversations & maintain more focus in general. He got nausea, too, from the higher dose patch.

catanol1

My husband too had a skin reaction to the rivastigmine patches, although more pronounced with the higher dose patch. The doctor then suggested the oral rivastigmine which we decided to not try as I figured if he had a reaction on his skin he was going to have a reaction to the tablets, with more serious side effects (per doctor). With Donepezil he had slight itching and doctor decided to take that off just in case. Right now he’s only on Memantine. I understand medications for this disease work better in tandem but so far he’s only been able to tolerate Memantine.

SDianeL

from Cleveland Clinic website:

• Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat. Talk to the doctor immediately.

Bailey's Mom

DH saw his PCP a few days ago and I had her look at the rash. She didn't seem to think it was related to Donepezil and prescribed triamcinolone (which the VA had already given him). It does seem to help, but he only will use it once every few days instead of the recommended twice daily. It is not getting worse anyway.

johnfreeman

I was diagnosed with dementia in 2018 and AD in 2022. I was on Donzeprel. It made me dizzy so I was changed to Mematine which works best for me.

JohnF

Bailey's Mom

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/228640#Comment_228640

Thanks for that info and sorry about your diagnosis. His pcp has not mentioned Mematine, so will ask her about it. Other than the rash he seems to be able to tolerate the donepezil…his pcp is increasing the dose so we will see how that goes…

Grandot

My DH is on donzeprel and and Memetine. He has a rash on one arm that he scratched and picks on all the time.