Rivastigmine is an oral medication used to treat patients with Alzheimers disease. Rivastigmine is in a class of drugs called cholinesterase inhibitors that also includes Tacrine i.e. Cognex, Donepezil i.e. Aricept and Galantamine i.e. Reminyl. Cholinesterase inhibitors inhibit block the action of Acetylcholinesterase, the enzyme responsible for the destruction of acetylcholine. Acetylcholine is one of several neurotransmitters in the brain chemicals that nerve cells use to communicate with one another. Reduced levels of acetylcholine in the brain are believed to be responsible for some of the symptoms of Alzheimers disease.

By blocking the enzyme that destroys acetylcholine, Rivastigmine increases the concentration of acetylcholine in the brain and this increase is believed to be responsible for the improvement in thinking seen with Rivastigmine. For most patients who take Rivastigmine there will not be a dramatic improvement but the progression of symptoms may be slowed. After six months of treatment with Rivastigmine, 25-30 of patients scored better on tests of memory understanding and activities of daily living as compared with only 10-20 of patients receiving placebo a dummy or sugar pill.

Rivastigmine was approved by the FDA in 1998.

However, before taking Rivastigmine i.e. Exelon medication, ask your pharmacist or doctor for a copy of the manufacturer’s information for the patient and read it carefully. Talk to your doctor about all the possible risks of taking Exelon medication. However, Exelon may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide. Hence, for more information, consult your doctor and your medical pharmacist.

Follow the directions given by the doctor exactly for the usage of the Exelon i.e. Rivastigmine medication and also read the prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand.

Generic Exelon i.e. Rivastigmine is usually taken twice daily with meals. Due to gastrointestinal side effects that can be seen early in therapy, Rivastigmine therapy is generally started at a low dose often 1.5 mg twice daily and gradually increased not more than once every 2 weeks. The goal usually is 6 mg twice daily. If a patient develops severe gastrointestinal side effects such as upset stomach and vomiting he or she may need to stop taking Rivastigmine for a few doses and then start taking it again at the same dose or a lower dose.

If you wish to use the medication for your children, please contact your pediatrician for the dosage.

If you notice any of the symptoms, which seem severe or persistent to you, please contact your doctor immediately. However, your doctor may need to monitor you carefully for side effects and alter the doses if necessary.

Some side effects seen are: hives, fainting spells, severe diarrhea, agitation, increased confusion, redness/blistering/peeling/loosening of the skin including inside the mouth, dizziness, skin rashes, changes in vision/balance, falls, nervousness, frequency of passing urine/incontinence, stomach pain, sweating, slow heartbeat/palpitations,
uncontrollable movements, weight loss, vomiting etc.

However, about one-half of patients who take Rivastigmine become nauseated and about one-third vomit at least once most commonly during the first few weeks of treatment as the dose is slowly increased. Between one in five and one in four patients lose weight during Rivastigmine therapy about 7 to 10 pounds on average. One in six patients experiences a loss of appetite. About one in fifty patients develops dizziness. Overall 15 of patients between one in seven and one in six discontinue therapy due to side effects.

Inform your doctor if you experience any of these side effects or some new side effects occur which appear too bothersome to you.

Inform your doctor if you are allergic to the formulation of this medication or any other medication in any other form and also inform your doctor about any other medication you may be taking in any other form, as they may affect the way your medicine works.

However, some of the medicines with which this drug interacts, include: hyoscyamine, atropine, glycopyrrolate, digoxin, benztropine, dicyclomine, NSAIDs, medications for motion sickness, donepezil, galantamine, tacrine, propantheline, oxybutynin, medicines that relax your muscles used for surgery etc.
Drugs with anticholinergic effects and which cross into the brain such as atropine, benztropine i.e. Cogentin and trihexyphenidyl i.e. Artane oppose the effects of Rivastigmine and should be avoided during therapy with Rivastigmine.

Unlike Donepezil i.e. Aricept, Rivastigmine does not cause the blood levels of other medications to rise and increase their risk for side effects.

Moreover, Exelon i.e. Rivastigmine may also interact with some kind of foods, varied medications, herbal products, nutritional supplements, vitamins, other OTC medicines, some vaccinations etc. Acquire more information about the interactions of the Exelon medication from your doctor and the medical pharmacists.

In case of overdose call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222.
If the suffering patient has collapsed or is not breathing call local emergency services at 911. Canadian residents should call their local poison control center directly.

Do not allow any other person to use your medication without getting doctor’s prescription themselves and also avoid using this medicine for other health conditions on your own. Keep the medicine away from the children and pets.

Also inform your doctor, if you are pregnant or are breast feeding. If you conceive during the course, inform your doctor immediately. Do not share your medicines with anyone, even if they have the same symptoms, for it may harm them. Do not begin, increase, decrease, or stop using this medicine on your own.

Remember, it is very important to keep regular appointments with your doctor to study the way your body is responding to the course. And if you are going to have a surgery, tell your health care professional that you are using Exelon medication.

And in case, if you wish to use the medicine in children, please contact your pediatrician for sure before its use.

If you missed the dose, do take the medicine immediately provided that there is ample of time in between the next dose. However, if it is almost time for the next dose skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Never double your doses to cope up with the missed. And in case, if you miss your one or two consecutive doses consult to your doctor or physician for guidance and continue further.

Generic Exelon i.e. Rivastigmine medication is used for the treatment of mild to moderate dementia of the Alzheimers type.

However, it may also be used to treat some other medical conditions which may be determined by your doctor accordingly and consult a pediatrician for the use of this medication in children.

The generic Exelon i.e. Rivastigmine medication may be prescribed for other uses also, so ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information about the Exelon i.e. Rivastigmine medication.

Generic Exelon i.e. Rivastigmine capsules at room temperature below 25°C 77°F. Keep the medicine in the container, it came in and always keep it tightly closed. Check Expiry date without fail. Keep all medicines away from women, newborns, children and pets. Do not freeze in any case. Also, keep it away from heat, dampness and direct light. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down. When the medicine is not in use or outdated it should be discarded. Take help of your pharmacist in disposing this medicine properly. In any case, do not store the Exelon capsules in the bathroom.

Following precautions must be taken during consuming generic Exelon i.e. Rivastigmine:

1. Inform your doctor if you have or have ever had: kidney disease, lung disease, liver disease, heart disease, diabetes, low or high blood pressure, asthma, heart attack, irregular/slow heartbeat, ulcers, Parkinson’s disease, difficulty in passing urine, stomach bleeding, head injury, stomach/intestinal disease, seizures or any other severe disease etc. Also inform, if you drink alcoholic beverages or are a tobacco smoker etc.

2. Also acknowledge your doctor if you need to undergo any kind of surgery, including dental surgery or need an x-ray procedure that uses contrast agents. So, inform your doctors immediately about it, so that the doctor can decide whether to continue taking Exelon medication or stop it during the surgery.

3. Let the doctor also know, if you are in-taking or are planning to take any prescribed or non prescribed medicines, health supplements or any other OTC medications, vitamins etc.

4. Do not use the Exelon i.e. Rivastigmine medication, if you have any kind of allergy to it or to any ingredients of it and tell your doctor or pharmacist about the allergy and get treated.

5. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breast feeding before taking Exelon medication. Hence also, inform your doctor immediately when you plan to conceive, or become pregnant during the course.

6. Do not share the drug with others unless they are prescribed by the doctor themselves. And if your symptoms of side effects do not improve in few weeks or if they become worse and bothersome, check these conditions immediately with your doctor.

7. Please, use the Exelon medicine in the prescribed amount and do not overdose it or use it for the longer period of time. Do not discontinue on your own and consult your doctor before doing so to avoid further problems.

8. Regularly, keep your appointments with your doctor and keep an eye on the progress or side effects that has been noticed during the complete course.

9. Also, avoid smoking and consuming alcohol and alcohol containing beverages during the complete course to achieve good results.

10. For more information, contact your doctor and your pharmacists and also discuss the risks and benefits of the generic Exelon.