Case Report: Post–Traumatic Memories Triggered by Donepezil in a Dose-Dependent Pattern

Abstract

Background

This case report describes a new adverse drug event due to use of donepezil in a patient with probable Alzheimer's Disease.

Case summary

While receiving a 10-mg dose of donepezil nightly, an 87-year old veteran of World War II experienced irrepressible memories of a kamikaze strike. This symptom did not occur at a 5-mg dose of donepezil and resolved with downward titration of this agent.

Conclusions

This sequence of dosage and symptoms suggests acetylcholinesterase inhibition was the trigger for release of these memories, which are otherwise mostly chronically repressed in this individual.