Exelon

Generic name: Rivastigmine (oral)
Drug class: Cholinesterase inhibitors

Usage of Exelon

Exelon improves the function of nerve cells in the brain. It works by preventing the breakdown of a chemical that is important for the processes of memory, thinking, and reasoning. People with dementia usually have lower levels of this chemical.

Exelon is used to treat mild to moderate dementia caused by Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease.

Exelon is not a cure for Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease.

The use of Exelon in in patients under 18 years of age is not recommended.

Exelon side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Exelon: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have:

severe or ongoing vomiting or diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss;

bloody or tarry stools, cough with bloody mucus or vomit that looks like coffee grounds;

a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;

tremors (uncontrolled shaking), restless muscle movements in your eyes, tongue, jaw, or neck;

seizure (convulsions);

painful or difficult urination;

severe skin redness, itching, or irritation; or

dehydration symptoms - feeling very thirsty or hot, being unable to urinate, heavy sweating, or hot and dry skin.

Common Exelon side effects may include:

upset stomach, nausea, vomiting;

loss of appetite; or

weakness.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking Exelon

You should not take Exelon if you are allergic to rivastigmine or similar medicines, such as felbamate, meprobamate, or Carisoprodol.

To make sure this medicine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

an ulcer or stomach bleeding;

a seizure;

heart problems;

liver or kidney disease;

urination problems; or

asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or other breathing disorder.

It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

It may not be safe to breastfeed while using this medicine. Ask your doctor about any risk.

Relate drugs

How to use Exelon

Usual Adult Dose for Alzheimer's Disease:

Mild to moderate Azheimer's disease: Oral: -Initial dose: 1.5 mg orally twice a day -Maintenance dose: After a minimum of 2 weeks of treatment, if the initial dosage is well tolerated, it can be increased to 3 mg twice a day; subsequent increases to 4.5 mg and 6 mg twice a day should be attempted only after a minimum of 2 weeks at the previous dosage.

Usual Adult Dose for Parkinson's Disease:

Mild to moderate Parkinson's disease dementia: Oral: Initial dose: 1.5 mg orally twice a day with morning and evening meals Maintenance dose: Subsequently, the dose can be increased to 3 mg orally twice a day and further to 4.5 mg twice a day and 6 mg twice a day (based on tolerability) with a minimum of 4 weeks at each dose.

Warnings

Exelon may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.

You should not take oral Exelon if you have ever had severe redness, itching, or skin irritation caused by wearing a Exelon transdermal skin patch.

Call your doctor at once if you have severe or ongoing vomiting or diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss, heavy sweating or hot and dry skin, black or bloody stools, coughing up blood, tremors (uncontrolled shaking), or restless muscle movements in your eyes, tongue, jaw, or neck.

Before using Exelon, tell your doctor if you have liver disease, a heart rhythm disorder such as "sick sinus syndrome" (slow heartbeats), recent weight loss or lack of appetite, an enlarged prostate, urination problems, a seizure disorder, asthma or allergies, tremors or uncontrolled muscle movements, or a history of stomach ulcer.

What other drugs will affect Exelon

Tell your doctor about all your other medicines, especially:

medicine to treat depression, anxiety, mood disorders, or mental illness;

cold or allergy medicine (Benadryl and others);

beta blocker heart or blood pressure medication;

medicine to treat Parkinson's disease;

medicine to treat nausea/vomiting, stomach problems, motion sickness, or irritable bowel syndrome;

medicine to treat overactive bladder;

bronchodilator asthma medication; or

an NSAID (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug such as aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, Advil, Motrin, Aleve, and others.

This list is not complete and many other drugs may interact with rivastigmine. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.