Side Effects of Tacrine (Cont.)

Common Tacrine Side Effects

Tacrine has been studied thoroughly in clinical trials. In these clinical trials, one group of people was given the real medication, while another group was given a placebo (a "sugar pill" with no active ingredients). This way, it is possible to see what tacrine side effects occurred, how often they appeared, and how they compared to the group who took the placebo.
 
In these studies, the most common side effects of tacrine included:
 
  • High liver enzymes -- in up to 29 percent of people
  • Nausea and/or vomiting -- up to 28 percent
  • Diarrhea -- up to 16 percent
  • Dizziness -- up to 12 percent
  • Indigestion or heartburn -- up to 9 percent
  • Loss of appetite -- up to 9 percent
  • Muscle pain -- up to 9 percent.
     
Other common tacrine side effects, occurring in 2 to 8 percent of people, included:
 
  • Fatigue
  • Weight loss
  • Abdominal pain (stomach pain)
  • Gas
  • Constipation
  • Coordination problems
  • Insomnia
  • Drowsiness
  • Shakiness
  • Anxiety
  • Facial flushing.
     

Less Common Side Effects of Tacrine

There are other, less common tacrine side effects that can occur. In studies, these side effects occurred in less than 1 percent of people taking tacrine. For these side effects, it is difficult to tell whether they are actually caused by the medication or something else. There is a good chance that these "side effects" could be completely unrelated to tacrine.
 
These less common potential side effects include, but are not limited to:
 
(Side Effects of Tacrine Continued: Page 3)

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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;