rivastigmine Transdermal

riv-a-STIG-meen

Commonly used brand name(s)

In the U.S.

• Exelon

Available Dosage Forms:

• Patch, Extended Release

Therapeutic Class: Central Nervous System Agent

Pharmacologic Class: Cholinesterase Inhibitor, Centrally Acting

Uses For rivastigmine

Rivastigmine is used to treat mild to moderate dementia (memory loss) associated with Alzheimer's disease or Parkinson's disease. Rivastigmine will not cure these diseases and it will not stop these diseases from getting worse. However, rivastigmine can improve thinking ability in some patients with these diseases.

In Alzheimer's disease, many chemical changes take place in the brain. One of the earliest and biggest changes is that there is a decrease in a chemical called acetylcholine (ACh). ACh helps the brain to work properly. Rivastigmine is an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor. It 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.

rivastigmine is available only with your doctor's prescription.

Before Using rivastigmine

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For rivastigmine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to rivastigmine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of rivastigmine in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established.

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatrics-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of rivastigmine in the elderly.

Pregnancy

	Pregnancy Category	Explanation
All Trimesters	B	Animal studies have revealed no evidence of harm to the fetus, however, there are no adequate studies in pregnant women OR animal studies have shown an adverse effect, but adequate studies in pregnant women have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus.

Breast Feeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Interactions with Medicines

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking rivastigmine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using rivastigmine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

• Metoclopramide

Using rivastigmine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Oxybutynin


• Tolterodine

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of rivastigmine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Asthma, history of or


• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), history of or


• Heart block or


• Seizures or tremors or


• Sick-sinus syndrome (heart rhythm problem) or


• Stomach or bowel ulcers or


• Urinary tract blockage or difficult urination—Use with caution. rivastigmine may worsen these conditions.

• Low body weight (below 50 kilograms)—Use with caution. The side effects of rivastigmine may be increased in this condition.

Proper Use of rivastigmine

rivastigmine comes with patient instructions. Read and follow these instructions carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.

To use the skin patch:

• Apply the patch right away after removing it from the protective pouch. Do not cut it into smaller pieces and do not touch the sticky surface of the patch.


• Apply the patch to a clean, dry, and hairless skin area on your upper or lower back, upper arm, or chest. Do not put the patch over rashes, cuts, or irritated skin. Avoid putting the patch on areas where it could be rubbed off by tight clothing.


• Press the patch firmly in place with the palm of your hand to make sure that the edges of the patch stick well.


• The patch should stay in place, even when you are showering, bathing, or swimming. Apply a new patch if it falls off.


• After 24 hours, remove the patch. Choose a different place on your skin to apply the new patch. Do not put a new patch in the same place for at least 14 days. Do not leave the patch on for more than 24 hours. It will not work as well after that time and it may irritate your skin.


• After removing a used patch, fold the patch in half with the sticky sides together. Place the folded, used patch in its protective pouch. Make sure to dispose of it out of the reach of children and pets.


• Try to change the patch at the same time each day. If you forget to change the patch at the usual time, remove the patch you are wearing and put on a new patch. After that, apply a fresh patch at the usual time on the next day.


• Do not put cream, lotion, ointment, oil, or powder on the skin area where the patch will be placed.


• Do not touch your eyes after you touch the patch.


• Do not expose the patch to direct sources of heat, such as heating pads, electric blankets, heat lamps, saunas, hot tubs, heated water beds, or direct sunlight for long periods of time.


• Make sure you wash your hands with soap and water before and after applying the patch.

Do not stop using rivastigmine without asking your doctor. If you have not used your medicine for several days in a row, do not start using it again without talking to your doctor first. You may need to start the medicine again using a lower dose.

Dosing

The dose of rivastigmine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of rivastigmine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

• For transdermal dosage form (patch):
  
  • For dementia associated with Alzheimer's disease or Parkinson's disease:
    
    • Adults—At first, one 4.6 milligram (mg) patch once a day. After at least 4 weeks, your doctor will increase your dose to one 9.5 mg patch once a day.
    
    
    • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
    
    
  
  

Missed Dose

If you forget to wear or change a patch, put one on as soon as you can. If it is almost time to put on your next patch, wait until then to apply a new patch and skip the one you missed. Do not apply extra patches to make up for a missed dose.

Storage

Store the patches at room temperature in a closed container, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.

Precautions While Using rivastigmine

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure rivastigmine is working properly and to check for unwanted effects.

Having more than one patch on your body at the same time can cause you to get too much of rivastigmine. Make sure you remove the used patch before wearing a new one to decrease your risk of having serious side effects. If you accidentally use more than one patch at a time, call your doctor right away.

rivastigmine may cause nausea, severe vomiting, loss of appetite, diarrhea, and weight loss. Talk with your doctor before using rivastigmine if you have any concerns.

Before you have any kind of surgery or dental treatment, tell the medical doctor or dentist in charge that you are taking rivastigmine. Using rivastigmine together with medicines that are sometimes used during surgery or dental treatments may increase the effects of these medicines.

rivastigmine may cause some people to become dizzy, drowsy, or less alert than they are normally. If any of these side effects occur, do not drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are dizzy or are not alert.

rivastigmine Side Effects

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

More common

• Bladder pain


• bloody or cloudy urine


• difficult, burning, or painful urination


• frequent urge to urinate


• lower back or side pain

Rare

• Abdominal or stomach pain or tenderness


• arm, back, or jaw pain


• chest pain or discomfort


• chest tightness or heaviness


• confusion


• convulsion


• decreased urine


• difficult or troubled breathing


• dilated neck veins


• extreme fatigue


• false beliefs that cannot be changed by facts


• fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat


• irregular breathing


• loss of consciousness


• rapid breathing


• seizures


• severe nausea or vomiting


• shortness of breath


• sunken eyes


• swelling of face, fingers, feet, or lower legs


• wheezing


• wrinkled skin

Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur:

Symptoms of overdose

• Blurred vision


• dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position


• increasing muscle weakness


• irregular, fast or slow, or shallow breathing


• pale or blue lips, fingernails, or skin


• slow or irregular heartbeat


• sweating


• watering of mouth


• unusual tiredness or weakness

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

• Diarrhea


• discouragement


• fear or nervousness


• feeling of constant movement of self or surroundings


• feeling sad or empty


• headache


• irritability


• lack of appetite


• lack or loss of strength


• loss of interest or pleasure


• nausea


• sensation of spinning


• sleeplessness


• stomach pain


• tiredness


• trouble concentrating


• trouble sleeping


• unable to sleep


• upper stomach pain


• vomiting


• weight loss

Rare

• Blindness


• blurred vision


• burning, stinging, or pain at application site


• continuing ringing or buzzing or other unexplained noise in the ears


• decreased vision


• difficulty in moving


• eye pain


• headache


• hearing loss


• itchy skin


• muscle pain or stiffness


• pain in joints


• pale skin


• tearing


• troubled breathing with exertion


• unusual bleeding or bruising

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

See also: rivastigmine Transdermal side effects (in more detail)

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More rivastigmine Transdermal resources

• Rivastigmine Transdermal Side Effects (in more detail)
• Rivastigmine Transdermal Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
• Rivastigmine Transdermal Drug Interactions
• Rivastigmine Transdermal Support Group
• 6 Reviews for Rivastigmine Transdermal - Add your own review/rating

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