Drug Manufacturer Sun Pharmaceuticals Inc., has received tentative approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to market a generic 5 mg and 10 mg version of donepezil hydrochloride tablets, which are used to treat Alzheimer's disease in the American market, under the brand name Aricept.
According to the National Cancer Institute, donepezil hydrochloride works by blocking the hydrolysis of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine and, consequently, increasing its activity. This agent may improve neurocognitive function in Alzheimer's disease, reduce sedation associated with opioid treatment of cancer pain, and improve neurocognitive function in patients who have received radiation therapy for primary brain tumors or brain metastases.


