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Exelon (rivastigmine); biopsychiatry.com:"Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the commonest cause of dementia affecting older people. One of the therapeutic strategies aimed at ameliorating the clinical manifestations of Alzheimer's disease is to enhance cholinergic neurotransmission in relevant parts of the brain by the use of cholinesterase inhibitors to delay the breakdown of acetylcholine released into synaptic clefts. Tacrine, the first of the cholinesterase inhibitors to undergo extensive trials for this purpose, was associated with significant adverse effects including hepatotoxicity. Several other cholinesterase inhibitors, including rivastigmine, with superior properties in terms of specificity of action and low risk of adverse effects, have now been introduced. Rivastigmine has received approval for use in 60 countries including all member States of the European Union and the USA."
http://www.biopsychiatry.com/rivastigmine.htm

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Exelon (rivastigmine); alzwisc.org:"Alzheimer’s disease affects the brain, causing a progressive decline in cognitive functioning. This decline is characterized by problems of memory and reasoning as well as personality and behavioral changes. There is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), but there are drugs available to treat the symptoms of mild to moderate AD. To date, four prescription medications have been approved by the FDA for treatment of AD: tacrine (Cognex®), donepezil (Aricept®), rivastigmine (Exelon®), and galantamine (Reminylâ). Because of concern over serious side effects, tacrine (Cognexâ) is rarely prescribed today."
http://www.alzwisc.org/drugtreatment.html

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Exelon (rivastigmine); pslgroup.com:"June 21, 2000 -- Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation announced today that Exelon® (rivastigmine tartrate) capsules -- the first new Alzheimer's disease medication in three years -- is now on pharmacy shelves and available by prescription. Exelon is a cholinesterase inhibitor for the treatment of mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease (AD). The safety and efficacy of Exelon were demonstrated in the largest phase III clinical program to date of any Alzheimer's disease medication. Patients treated with Exelon demonstrated a significant benefit in global functioning based on evaluation of activities of daily living (ADLs), behavior and cognition."
http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/1d6be2.htm

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Exelon (rivastigmine); laurushealth.com:"Rivastigmine is used to treat Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's disease is associated with low levels of a chemical called acetylcholine (ah see til KOH leen) in your brain. The exact way that rivastigmine works is unknown. However, it is believed that rivastigmine prevents the breakdown of acetylcholine in your brain. Rivastigmine is used to improve thinking and memory in patients with Alzheimer's disease."
http://www.laurushealth.com/Library/HealthGuide/DrugGuide/topic.asp?hwid=multumd04537a1

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Exelon (rivastigmine); healthsquare.com:"The usual starting dose is 1.5 milligrams 2 times a day for at least 2 weeks. At 2 week intervals, the doctor may then increase the dose to 3 milligrams, 4.5 milligrams, and finally 6.0 milligrams 2 times a day. Higher doses tend to be more effective. The maximum dosage is 12 milligrams daily. If side effects such as nausea and vomiting begin to develop, the doctor may recommend skipping a few doses, then starting again at the same or the next lowest dosage."
http://www.healthsquare.com/newrx/exe1545.htm

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Exelon (rivastigmine); shop.valuepharmaceuticals.com:"Rivastigmine tartrate is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to rivastigmine, other carbamate derivatives or other components of the formulation. Rivastigmine tartrate use is associated with significant gastrointestinal adverse reactions, including nausea and vomiting, anorexia, and weight loss. Caregivers should be advised of the high incidence of nausea and vomiting associated with the use of the drug along with the possibility of anorexia and weight loss. Caregivers should be encouraged to monitor for these adverse events and inform the physician if they occur."
http://shop.valuepharmaceuticals.com/public/med_info/exelon.htm

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Exelon (rivastigmine); MedlinePlus.com:"Rivastigmine (riv-a-STIG-meen)is used to treat the symptoms of mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. Rivastigmine will not cure Alzheimer's disease, and it will not stop the disease from getting worse. However, rivastigmine can improve thinking ability in some patients with Alzheimer's disease. In Alzheimer's disease, many chemical changes take place in the brain. One of the earliest and biggest changes is that there is less of a chemical called acetylcholine (ACh). ACh helps the brain to work properly. Rivastigmine slows the breakdown of ACh, so it can build up and have a greater effect. However, as Alzheimer's disease gets worse, there will be less and less ACh, so rivastigmine may not work as well."
Office of Communications and Public Liaison National Library of Medicine
8600 Rockville Pike Bethesda, Maryland 20894
Phone: (301) 496-6308 Fax: (301) 496-4450 email: publicinfo@nlm.nih.gov
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/rivastigminesystemic500151.html

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Exelon (rivastigmine); centerwatch.com:"Exelon® has been approved in oral solution and capsule form for the treatment of mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. This drug belongs to the class of drugs called cholinesterase inhibitors. Cholinesterase breaks down acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter which assists in human memory and cognition processes. By inhibiting cholinesterase, more acetylcholine available to the patient for memory and cognitive functioning. This is effective in treatment of Alzheimer's disease, since acetylcholine is at significantly lower levels in Alzheimer's patients than in normally functioning people. Exelon® has been shown to improve patients' performance in the three major domains of assessment of Alzheimer's: global functioning (such as activities of daily living), behavior, and cognition."
http://www.centerwatch.com/patient/drugs/dru620.html

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Exelon (rivastigmine); 123rxdrugs.com:"Indication(s): Treatment of mild to moderate dementia of the Alzheimer's type. Administration: Starting dose is 1.5mg orally twice daily. After 2 weeks, if tolerated, dose may be increased to 3mg orally twice daily. Maximum dose is 6mg orally twice daily (12mg/day). Pharmacology: It is postulated that Exelon facilitates cholinergic neurotransmission across pathways that project from the basal forebrain to the cerebral cortex and hippocampus by increasing the availability of acetylcholine by inhibiting its breakdown by cholinesterase. (i.e. acetylcholinesterase inhibitor)."
http://www.123rxdrugs.com/DrugBriefs/Exelon.htm

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Exelon (rivastigmine); Drugs.com:"Take rivastigmine exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you. Rivastigmine is usually taken twice a day, in the morning and evening. Follow your doctor's directions. Take rivastigmine with food. If you are taking rivastigmine capsules, take each dose with a full glass of water."
http://drugs.com/xq/cfm/pageID_0/htm_d04537A1.htm/bn_Exelon/qx/index.htm

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