Does it matter when my father takes donepezil?

As part of a weekly series, in association with LloydsPharmacy, Colin Dougall from LloydsPharmacy in Glasgow answers your common medicine queries…

Q: My father has recently been prescribed donepezil. Does it matter when he takes it? 

Donepezil is prescribed to treat the symptoms of dementia. It’s important to take it at the same time each day to keep its levels in the body as steady as possible and maximise its effectiveness. It doesn’t matter whether it’s taken in the morning or evening, although some patients find they have very vivid dreams if they take it in the evening (if that’s the case, it’s fine to switch to the morning). It can be taken with or without food, but it can make you feel nauseous so it may be better to take after food.

Q: Can plant sterols lower cholesterol? 

Plant sterols are natural substances that have been shown to help lower cholesterol by blocking the body’s absorption of ‘bad’ or LDL cholesterol. You can find them added to certain spreads and yoghurt drinks and, if taken as recommended, they have been shown to reduce bad cholesterol after using them for a few weeks combined with a healthy diet (plant sterols can be taken with statins for added benefit). However, you have to keep taking them to maintain the effect.