Drug & supplement interaction

Apoaequorin + Donepezil

Donepezil brand name: Aricept.

No Known Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated July 2026 · Pair last verified Sep 20, 2026
The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Apoaequorin and Donepezil in our sources. Absence of a documented interaction is not the same as proven safety, and does not guarantee one does not exist. Do not start, stop, or change a medication or supplement based on this page; confirm with your pharmacist or doctor first. Additionally, although there is no interaction, the two are separately associated with some of the same side effects, which would make a new symptom harder to attribute to one or the other.

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Interaction report

Apoaequorin and Donepezil

We checked these two against our interaction database. Here is what we found.

No Known Interaction Found

We did not find a documented interaction between Donepezil and Apoaequorin in our sources. This does not guarantee that the combination is completely free of risk — there is often limited research on supplements and herbal products, especially around drug interactions.

Worth understanding: our licensed dataset holds no drug-interaction record for Apoaequorin at all — not against Donepezil, and not against any other medication we track. This verdict therefore rests on the absence of any recorded data, not on research that looked at this combination and found nothing. We cannot rule an interaction out.

If you decide to take both, the practical routine is simple: add one new thing at a time and note the date you started it. If the combination is going to disagree with you, it usually shows in the first days to a couple of weeks — and a start date turns “I’ve been feeling off” into something a pharmacist can actually work with. Do not stop a prescribed medicine on your own.

Always talk with your pharmacist or doctor before making changes to your medications or supplements, particularly if you take several medications or have an ongoing health condition.

Apoaequorin safety at a glance

Apoaequorin overall Use caution Generally well tolerated in short-term studies, but long-term safety is not well established.
Pregnancy Avoid There is not enough safety information, so it is best avoided during pregnancy.
Breastfeeding Avoid There is not enough safety information, so it is best avoided while breastfeeding.

Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.

Pharmacist analysis
Prevagen bottle

Based on the current research available, apoaequorin, the protein derived from jellyfish that is the active ingredient in Prevagen, is not known to interact with any drugs.

This lack of interactions is likely due to the fact that apoaequorin is a relatively small and simple protein that does not have any known drug-binding sites or enzymatic activity.

Additionally, safety studies in animals have shown that even very large doses of apoaequorin don't appear to affect any organs or blood chemistry.

However, overall, there is limited data on its potential interactions with other drugs.

If someone is taking apoaequorin as a dietary supplement, they should still consult with a healthcare professional before starting to take it, especially if they are currently taking any medications or have any underlying medical conditions.

As with any dietary supplement, it is important to follow recommended dosages and to use it only as directed.

References

  • Subchronic toxicity of lyophilized apoaequorin protein powder in Sprague-Dawley rats. Sage Journals
  • Safety assessment of Apoaequorin, a protein preparation: subchronic toxicity study in rats. PubMed

Safe With Aricept (Donepezil)?

Prevagen is composed of a protein called apoaequorin, which is purported to have a positive effect on cognitive function via the regulation of calcium, while Aricept works differently, by increasing the levels of acetylcholine in the brain, a neurotransmitter that is involved in memory and learning.

Despite their differing mechanisms of action, there is no known interaction between the two.

Additionally, Prevagen does not seem to have any impact on the activity of cytochrome P450 enzymes, which are responsible for breaking down drugs like Aricept in the liver.

However, it is important to note that Prevagen has not been extensively studied in clinical trials in regard to its safety with other drugs.

Therefore, individuals who are considering taking Prevagen or any other dietary supplement should speak with their healthcare provider to determine the potential risks and benefits, especially if they are already taking Aricept or any other medication for cognitive impairment.

—

Still wondering about combining Donepezil and Apoaequorin? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›
What to actually watch for

No Interaction Found — But Data Suggests Apoaequorin and Donepezil May Share Several of the Same Side Effects

This is not an interaction. Neither one changes how your body handles the other, and nothing here says they react together. What our sources do show is that each has separately been linked to the effects below — so taking both can make those effects more likely to turn up, and harder to pin on one or the other if they do.

  • Trouble sleeping Additional detail

    Apoaequorin

    “Orally, a specific apoaequorin product (Prevagen, Quincy Bioscience) has been reported to cause headache and dizziness in one clinical study at a rate of 18.8% and 7.6%, respectively. Memory impairment and insomnia were also reported. However, it is unclear how these rates compare with placebo.”

    Apoaequorin · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in cluster headache.

    1 source cited
    1. 89624. GRAS Notice (GRN) No. 568. U.S. Food and Drug Administration Web site. Available at: http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Food/IngredientsPackagingLabeling/GRAS/NoticeInventory/UCM457034.pdf. Accessed September 28, 2015.

    Donepezil

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Donepezil. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Diarrhea reported in 5.0% of FDA reports for Donepezil Additional detail

    Apoaequorin

    “Orally, a specific apoaequorin product (Prevagen, Quincy Bioscience) was reported to cause mild diarrhea, nausea, and stomach pain in one study. Nausea occurred at a rate of 6.8%, diarrhea at a rate of 3.2%, and stomach pain at a rate of 2.2%. However, it is unclear how these rates compare with placebo.”

    Apoaequorin · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in diarrhea.

    1 source cited
    1. 89624. GRAS Notice (GRN) No. 568. U.S. Food and Drug Administration Web site. Available at: http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Food/IngredientsPackagingLabeling/GRAS/NoticeInventory/UCM457034.pdf. Accessed September 28, 2015.

    Donepezil

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Donepezil, and in voluntary FDA adverse-event reports. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Nausea reported in 4.6% of FDA reports for Donepezil Additional detail

    Apoaequorin

    “Orally, apoaequorin seems to be well tolerated.

    Most Common Adverse Effects:

    Orally: Dizziness, headache, and nausea.”

    Apoaequorin · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in cluster headache.

    Donepezil

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Donepezil, and in voluntary FDA adverse-event reports. Read the label on DailyMed ›

Reported for Apoaequorin but not commonly for Donepezil: memory problems, stomach pain, raised blood pressure and low blood pressure.

Effects for Donepezil come from the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of its FDA label; effects for Apoaequorin come from the Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, quoted above. Where a percentage is shown, it is the share of 37,026 voluntary FDA FAERS reports for Donepezil that mention that effect — a reporting proportion, not an incidence rate and not evidence the drug caused it. Wording is matched across sources by our own clinical vocabulary, so treat this as a prompt to pay attention, not a diagnosis.

Overlapping uses

What Donepezil Is Prescribed For, and What Apoaequorin Has Been Studied For

These two come up together because they touch the same health topic — not because they do the same job. Donepezil is a prescription medicine with approved uses on its FDA label. Apoaequorin is a supplement: what follows is what researchers have looked at it for, and how strong that evidence is.

Donepezil is prescribed for: Donepezil is used to treat dementia of the Alzheimer's type. It has been shown to be effective across all stages — mild, moderate, and severe Alzheimer's disease. It can help with memory, thinking, and daily functioning, though it works differently for each person. Donepezil does not cure Alzheimer's disease or stop the disease from progressing.

Apoaequorin has been studied for:

  • Memory studied, not established Apoaequorin has been studied for this. Natural Medicines rates the evidence: Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Read what the research shows

    Apoaequorin for memory

    Although there is interest in using oral apoaequorin for improving memory, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of apoaequorin for this purpose.

Effectiveness ratings and the research summaries above are the verbatim record from the Natural Medicines database, which grades evidence from “Effective” down to “Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate”. A rating below the top of that scale means researchers have looked at it — not that it works, and never that it can stand in for a prescribed medicine. Do not stop or replace Donepezil on your own; if you are taking Apoaequorin for the same health topic, tell your prescriber, especially if the medicine is being adjusted to a target.

From our Q&A

Questions About Apoaequorin or Donepezil

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Apoaequorin or Donepezil, not necessarily both, but if one is close to what you were about to ask it will usually go further than a database entry can:

Not quite your question? Ask our pharmacists directly — it is free, there is no account required, and answers usually come back within 24 hours.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Donepezil

This page covers Apoaequorin only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Donepezil page lists 173 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Grapefruit (major), St. John's Wort (major), 1,3-dmaa (moderate) and Acacia Rigidula (moderate).

By severity: 3 major · 127 moderate · 43 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Donepezil page

“If you or a loved one takes donepezil (Aricept) for Alzheimer's disease, this is a list worth reading with real care, starting with the three major-rated entries: grapefruit, St. John's wort, and activated charcoal.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Donepezil interaction page

One more smart check

Taking Apoaequorin as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 28 real supplement products containing Apoaequorin, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Apoaequorin. Even though Apoaequorin itself has no known interaction with Donepezil, another ingredient on your label might. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Apoaequorin and Donepezil Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement Apoaequorin
Steady interest

#931 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Donepezil
Steady interest

#1,793 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Where does our data come from?
  • Source: the Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) clinical database — the evidence-graded professional reference for herb & supplement interactions.
  • Citation library: 103,510 references behind our interaction content, 65,311 of them resolved to verified PubMed/DOI sources. See every Apoaequorin reference on this page ↓
  • Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 20, 2026. The Apoaequorin and Donepezil records this page draws on were last updated July 10, 2026.
  • What “no known interaction” means: no documented interaction in the sources above — not a guarantee of safety. Supplements are studied far less than prescription drugs, so we say exactly what the evidence supports, and nothing more.
Data structure & sourcing designed and verified by .
Supplement

About Apoaequorin

What is Apoaequorin?

Apoaequorin
  • Age-related memory concerns
  • General cognitive support
  • Brain health
  • Mild forgetfulness

Apoaequorin is a jellyfish-derived protein marketed (as Prevagen) to support memory and brain health. The scientific evidence that it improves memory is weak and largely comes from industry-funded studies, and as a protein it is likely broken down during digestion. Talk with your pharmacist or doctor before using it, especially if you have memory problems that need medical evaluation.

A synthetic version of a protein originally found in the jellyfish Aequorea victoria · Capsules, chewable tablets

An interaction check asks whether these two react with each other — it does not ask whether Apoaequorin is a good idea for someone in your situation. Here is what our Apoaequorin record says about it on its own.

Apoaequorin: dosing

There is no officially established or standardized dose for apoaequorin. Taking more than the labeled amount has no proven benefit and is not recommended.

From our Apoaequorin monograph — the full record covers uses, side effects and every documented interaction.

Read the full Apoaequorin monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Donepezil

What Is Donepezil Used For?

Brand name: Aricept

Donepezil is used to treat dementia of the Alzheimer's type. It has been shown to be effective across all stages — mild, moderate, and severe Alzheimer's disease.

It can help with memory, thinking, and daily functioning, though it works differently for each person. Donepezil does not cure Alzheimer's disease or stop the disease from progressing.

Most-Reported Side Effects for Donepezil

From FAERS, the FDA’s public side-effect reporting system (37,026 reports, all brands). Reports are voluntary and are not proof the drug caused the effect.

Fall 3,130 reports
Confusional state 2,010 reports
Dizziness 1,857 reports
Diarrhea 1,840 reports
Fatigue 1,794 reports
See full Donepezil drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Apoaequorin

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Apoaequorin — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

0Major
0Moderate
0Minor
2,829No known interaction
2,829 No interaction
No interaction 2,829 drugs checked — show the list

We also checked Apoaequorin against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,829 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Apoaequorin list.

See the full Apoaequorin interactions page
See every supplement checked against Donepezil, ranked by severity
Evidence & sources

Apoaequorin References

The 1 references that drive our Apoaequorin monograph and interaction data, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Citations with a link open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

  1. GRAS Notice (GRN) No. 568. U.S. Food and Drug Administration Web site. Available at: http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Food/IngredientsPackagingLabeling/GRAS/NoticeInventory/UCM457034.pdf. Accessed September 28, 2015.

Medication overviews come from MedlinePlus (NIH); supplement label data from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists — see our data sources and editorial standards.

Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Apoaequorin and Donepezil Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Apoaequorin with Donepezil?
We do not list a known interaction between Apoaequorin and Donepezil. That does not guarantee the combination is risk-free, so confirm with your pharmacist or doctor — especially if you take other medications or have a health condition.
Do Apoaequorin and Donepezil have any of the same side effects?
Yes — our sources link each of them separately to 3 of the same effects. That is not an interaction: neither changes how your body handles the other. It does mean that if one of those effects turns up, it can be harder to tell which one is behind it. They are listed on this page with the source behind each.
Are Apoaequorin and Donepezil used for the same thing?
They overlap in purpose, which usually means the real question is whether you need both rather than whether they are safe together. This page lists the shared uses and how strong the evidence is for Apoaequorin in each. That is a conversation for your prescriber, especially if Donepezil is being adjusted to a target.
Does Donepezil interact with any supplements?
Yes. Donepezil has documented interactions with 173 supplements in our database — Apoaequorin is not one of them. The Donepezil interaction page linked on this page lists every one, ranked by severity.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Where next

Keep Exploring

Apoaequorin monograph Uses, safety profile, and every drug interaction in one place Donepezil drug information The full plain-English guide to this medication Donepezil supplement interactions Every supplement checked against Donepezil, ranked by severity Supplement interaction checker Check any supplement or product against your medications Browse medications A–Z Every drug we’ve checked against herbs & supplements References The 1 citations behind this page Ask a pharmacist Free, personal answer from our licensed team

Still Have a Question About Donepezil and Apoaequorin?

Our pharmacists answer your medication & supplement questions — free.

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This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.