Obsessive–compulsive disorder induced by donepezil in a patient with Alzheimer's disease

Abstract

Abstract Background Donepezil, an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor commonly used to treat Alzheimer's disease (AD), is generally well tolerated. There have been no previous reports on donepezil‐induced obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD). Case Presentation The patient, a retired man in his 70s diagnosed with AD, displayed OCD symptoms following donepezil initiation, exacerbating post‐stroke—specifically, a cerebral infarction in the right posterior limb of the internal capsule. Remarkably, the symptoms abated upon discontinuation of donepezil. Conclusion Caution should be exercised when using donepezil in patients with a history of stroke.

Keywords

• Alzheimer's disease
• donepezil
• obsessive–compulsive disorder
• stroke