Aricept is a commonly prescribed drug for treating Alzheimer’s disease. However, like all the Alzheimer’s drugs, Aricept does not work for the vast majority who take it. In my opinion, for the few who achieve some benefit with Aricept, the positive effects are minute and fleeting.
An article on Medscape.com (9.19.2019) was titled, “Alzheimer’s Drug Linked to Potentially Serious Muscle Condition.” The article reported on new data that found Aricept is associated with a 2x higher risk for hospital admission for rhabdomyolysis. Rhabdomyolysis is a life-threatening condition in which muscle cells break down which can lead to kidney failure and death. But wait, there is more! Unfortunately, there are many other potentially serious side effects of Aricept (as well as every other Alzheimer’s drug currently being prescribed).
The Contraindications/Precautions section in the PDR for Aricept are lengthy. Be careful trying to read it—it is mind-numbing! Diarrhea, GI bleeding, GI disease, peptic ulcer disease and vomiting are just a few of the potential side effects of Aricept. Pancreatitis, gall bladder inflammation, seizures, arrhythmias, and slowed heart rate are listed as severe adverse reactions. How frequent are these reactions? Only The Shadow knows as the PDR lists “Incidence not known.” Moderate adverse reactions to Aricept include hostility, hallucinations, depression, hypertension, dehydrations, confusion, chest pain, bleeding, and hepatitis.
I won’t bother with the mild adverse reactions because no one should be taking this drug anyways.
Folks, the conventional approach to treating Alzheimer’s disease has been an unmitigated disaster. The drugs simply do not work and they are associated with far too many adverse effects. And, to make matters worse, they are expensive.
I do not claim to know the cure for Alzheimer’s disease, but I do know that Aricept and other Alzheimer’s medications should not be used.
My experience has shown that metal toxicity is a major cause of Alzheimer’s disease. This includes toxicity from mercury, lead, cadmium, arsenic and aluminum. We get metals in our diet, from the environment, and in many vaccines such as the flu vaccine (which contains mercury). Detoxifying heavy metals and maintaining adequate hydration along with eating a healthy diet beats any Alzheimer’s drug.
In order to avoid becoming and Alzheimer’s statistic, the best course of action is live a healthy life, maintain optimal hydration, avoid heavy metal exposure (as best you can), and detoxify throughout your life. The best results are achieved by working with a holistic health care provider who can properly test you and implement a personalized detoxification program.
~DrB
A quick punctuation, as a friend’s father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s about 8 years back, having never been sick in his life. He was put on Aracept, at a fairly high cost – but not long after the diarrhea, and mood changes kicked in. She found a clinical trial where a brain scan was run, and her dad was diagnosed dementia, instead of Alzhiemer’s (a convenient bucket?). By that time, he was more disoriented than ever. When I asked, both she and her father had gotten flu shots in each of 8 or 10 years prior to his diagnosis. Do the math?
Are you saying that Aricept has a metal toxicity component or is exposing the patient to heavy metals? If so, which one? The way the heavy metals paragraph is juxtaposed with the warning against taking Aricept implies this. This is a very important question/clarification for me, as my mom has been on Aricept for about 2 years with little benefit.
Elizabeth,
Aricept does not have a heavy metal component.
DrB
As mentioned above, perhaps statins play a part in dementia. The body uses cholesterol to coat the nerve endings in the brain and you have to wonder if taking a drug to control cholesterol doesn’t gum up the process. Since it seems that Alzheimer’s is a relatively new disease, modern drugs and modern foods play a role, I am convinced. Many drug companies have given up trying to find a cure for Alzheimer’s disease. My father is over 92 and has no problems with dementia. He doesn’t eat a healthy diet, has a large belly, and takes a few pills, one of which I think is a statin. He had no trouble with a recent hip replacement and otherwise has no major illnesses. His father lived to be 101. Is it purely genes? Go figure.
I saw this particular effect of Donepezil (Aricept) first hand . Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome with Rhabdomyalisis. Took out a healthy Alzheimer’s patient (my father) in a couple of weeks. Health Canada recognizes this, there’s hardly anything available anywhere in the US about it. Don’t let them put anybody you care about on this stuff, but if they are, and this happens, they need to stop the drug and get dialysis immediately. http://healthycanadians.gc.ca/recall-alert-rappel-avis/hc-sc/2015/43469a-eng.php
Would taking IP6 to detoxify heavy metals help?
Chang,
Maybe. It depends on what metals you are detoxifying from. I tis best to work with a health care provider who is knowledgeable about detoxification.
DrB
This post just showed up on fb today. Tom Grier has been doing research on LD and other tick-borne diseases for many years and is well respected in the LD community.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10218771531026803&set=pcb.10218771565187657&type=3&theater
I concur with Dr B’s comments and add one rule regarding Detox. If you do NOT know how the materials you are planning or expecting to Detox can leave your body, then DO NOT DETOX. Go find someone as Dr B suggests who does know ,whether this is in person with an experienced health professional or by other means.
IF our body cannot eliminate something it MUST store it somewhere as best it can or leave it circulating. Release it by ‘Detox’ and IF it cannot be eliminated what can our system do? We can make ourselves doubly sick.
There have been tests done on brain tissue of alzheimer’s patients who have died. Nearly all of them were infected with Borrelia.
They just put my brother on Abilify, for hallucinations and restlessness. He is 68 yrs and has been diagnosed with dementia. I read the side effects of Abilify and they state that it can cause hallucinations and restlessness amoung other terrible things. Is there anything that can help him?
Kathryn,
It is very hard to answer without doing a full work up on him.
DrB
Yes Dr. Brownstein, you are right, it is impossible to help some one if you do not eliminate or, unless, reduce the causes!
Would you be willing to share some methods of detox that you often use with your patients? Your top five most used methods …?
Deanne,
1. Eat a clean diet.
2. Drink adequate amounts of water.
3. Exercise daily
4. Get adequate amounts of sleep
5. Figure out what you are detoxifying from.
DrB
Do the basics first! Work with a holistic health care practitioner skilled in detoxifying. At my office, we have five skilled people!!
DrB
Dear Dr. Brownstein, I’ve been following your protocols for so many years. You led me to Dr. Sircus, whose medical protocols fit my lifestyle as well. Thank you so much for shining a light on facts. The Big Pharma Cartel is alive and kicking.
Thank you for that information! In your opinion what is the best way to detox?
Arlene,
see my previous comment.
DrB
I do home health assessments with a medical company and am scheduled with patients over 60 yrs old. I have often found the majority of the patients i see are on a combo of Statins and PPI’s with a diagnosis of Dementia /Alzheimer’s. (at least 98%) Can you elaborate on your thoughts about this combo medication?
Dawn,
If you have been reading my writings over the years, you already know what I think about those drugs (note: no sarcasm intended here). For more info, look at my books–The Statin Disaster and Drugs That Don’t Work and Natural Therapies That Do.
DrB
I am currently reading the Book-Drugs That Don’t Work and Natural Therapies That Do. Thanks! Its a real eye opener. I am seeing a clearer picture now. Wish other practitioners would be open to learning this important information and applying it to their practice. I struggle to keep my mother off this medication. Her doctor uses scare tactics and tells her she will have a major stroke if she doesn’t take a statin. My mother is 78 fairly healthy on no medications ,just supplements and vitamins and an immune booster. Blood pressures are normal and cholesterol is borderline according to Allopathic medicine. Her doctor is just itching to put her on medication. My father died from Poly-pharmacy (he was on 31 prescription pills) so i watch my mother very closely. I just sent her a few screen shots of your book to help convince her that her PCP is dead wrong. Thank-you