Somebody asked on another thread how the Aricept was working out, so I thought I'd post an update...
So far, I haven't seen any of the negative side effects of Aricept. I'm on the 5 mg dose, which is the lowest it gets, and I have really noticed an improvement in my memory and my multi-tasking abilities. I'm able to remember phone numbers, and cook a complicated meal. (Made pork lo mein on Tuesday... yum.)
I also seem to be grouchier, and less tolerant than I used to be. I don't know if it's the drug, or just me. I have been under a lot of stress this last month. But I have been a real beeeeeeeyaaaatch, if you know what I mean.
The only two things that are a little weird that I can definitely say is the drug - my dreams are now a lot more vivid and detailed. I used to have vivid dreams all the time, but in the last three years, they've been kinda grayed out and boring. I also get a feeling of 'high-resolution' in the moiré behind my eyes, as if the details are turned up a notch.
So I think the results are worth the mild side effects. Used to be, when I felt bad - tired, fatigued, obviously suffering from MS-type symptoms - my cognition would be down as well. I would have a hard time thinking straight, and the worse I felt, the harder it was to think. Since I've been taking aricept, my physical condition still affects how clearly I think, but even when I'm foggy, it's a much thinner fog than it used to be.