Before taking Exelon, you should inform your doctor if you have seizure disorder, enlarged prostate, urinating problem, lack of appetite or weight loss, heart rhythm disorder like sick sinus syndrome, liver disease, history of stomach ulcers, uncontrolled tremors and asthma or allergies.
How Effective is Exelon?
Exelon which is also known as Rivastigmine is effectively used to promote the functions of brain nerve cells. Exelon or rivastigmine works by inhibiting the breakdown of a chemical which very key for the processes of reasoning, memory and thinking. People suffering from a condition known as dementia do have low levels of this chemical.
Exelon or rivastigmine is effectively used in treatment of mild to moderate dementia which is caused by Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s disease.
- Be careful when driving or doing activities that need you to be alert after taking exelon or rivastigmine. This medicine can impair your reactions or thinking.
- Do not consume orally exelon or rivastigmine when you have experienced itching, severe redness or skin irritation brought by wearing of Exelon transdermal skin patch.
- Inform your doctor immediately if you have ongoing or severe diarrhea or vomiting, weight loss, loss of appetite, dry or hot skin, heavy sweating, bloody or black stools, restless movements in your jaw, coughing of blood, uncontrolled shaking, neck, tongue or eyes.
Do not wear more than one exelon or rivastigmine skin patch at a time. Always remove the old one before wearing a new one.
What is the Recommended Dosage of Exelon?
General Adult Dose of Exelon for Treating Alzheimer’s Disease:
For mild to moderate condition of Alzheimer’s: The initial exelon or rivastigmine dose suggestion is to take orally 1.5 milligrams a day, with morning and evening meals.
Maintenance dose: If the initial dose is well tolerated within two weeks of treatment, it can be increased to 3 milligrams twice daily. Subsequent dose increase to 4.5 milligrams and 6 milligrams twice daily can be tried after a minimum of 14 days of the previous dose.
Transdermal Application:
Initial dose: Apply 4.6 milligrams transdermal patch once daily.
Maintenance dose: The dose of exelon or rivastigmine can be increased to 9.5 milligrams daily if the initial dose was well tolerated for a minimum of four weeks. If the dose is beneficial, it can be increased to 13.3 milligrams daily.
Maximum dose: 13.3 milligrams applied daily. High dose than this does not have any additional benefit and may cause increased incidence of adverse conditions.
How to Take Exelon or Rivastigmine?
- Apply exelon or rivastigmine patch once daily.
- Firmly press down for about 30 seconds till the edges get stuck well
- Use lower or upper back as place of application
- Do not apply to skin surface especially where lotion, cream or powder was recently applied
- Do not apply on skin that is irritated, red or cut.
- Put on one patch at a time
- Change place of application daily,
- You can wear patch during bathing, but prevent long exposure to external sources of heat.
For Treatment of Severe Alzheimer’s disease:
- Apply 13.3 milligrams of transdermal exelon or rivastigmine patch to skin once daily. Replace it with a new patch after every 24 hours.
- If you interrupt the dose for up to 3 days, restart the treatment with lower or same strength of transdermal patch.
- If you interrupt the dose for more than 3 days, restart the treatment with 4.6mg of transdermal patch and nitrate daily.
General Adult Dose of Exelon for Treatment of Parkinson’s Disease:
For Mild to Moderate Parkinson’s Disease:
Oral Administration:
Initial dose: take 1.5 milligrams of exelon or rivastigmine two times a day with morning and evening meals.
Maintenance dose: the exelon or rivastigmine dose can be increased subsequently to 3 milligrams, 4.5 milligrams or 6 milligrams twice a day, depending with tolerability of each dose for a minimum of 4 weeks.
Transdermal Application:
Initial dose: apply 4.6 milligrams of exelon or rivastigmine to the skin once daily.
Maintenance dose: if the initial dose of exelon or rivastigmine is well tolerated for a minimum of four weeks of treatment, the patch dose can be increased to 9.5 milligrams daily as long as it is beneficial.
Maximum dose: maximum dose of exelon or rivastigmine can only go up to 13.3 milligrams daily. Higher doses than this may not benefit the patient and can escalate incidences in adverse conditions.
What are the Side Effects of Exelon?
Common side effects of exelon or rivastigmine are:
- Upset stomach, vomiting, nausea, diarrhea are the side effects of exelon or rivastigmine;
- Weakness and also loss of appetite
Seek immediate medical help if you experience allergic reactions to exelon or rivastigmine such as breathing difficulty, hives, swelling If your lips, tongue, throat and face.
Contact your doctor immediately if you have the following severe side effects of exelon or rivastigmine:
- Severe or ongoing diarrhea or vomiting with weight loss;
- Bloody stools, coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds;
- A light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;
- Tremors (uncontrolled shaking), agitated muscle movements in your neck, eyes, jaw, tongue;
- Seizure (convulsions);
- Difficult or painful urination;
- Severe skin redness, itching, or irritation; or
- Unable to urinate, hot and dry skin, feel thirsty, heavy sweating.