Table of Contents

What is Exelon?

Exelon is the brand name of a drug called Rivastigmine. It belongs to the class of medicine known as a cholinesterase inhibitor. Doctors prescribe Exelon to treat Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and other conditions determined by them. This medication is available in oral form as well in the form of transdermal skin patches. It works by reducing the breakdown of a chemical in the brain, which is essential for the processes related to memory, thinking, and reasoning. One can avail of this medication only with a proper prescription from the doctor.

What to know before taking Exelon?

You should avoid taking Exelon if you are allergic to it or any of its components or similar medicines. To ensure that Exelon is safe for you, you should tell your doctor if you have or ever had the following health issue:

Stomach ulcer
Bleeding in stomach
Heart problem
Kidney disease
Liver infection
Urination problem
Asthma
Chronic obstructive hyperactivity disorder (COPD)
Other breathing issues

Expecting women and lactating mothers should consult their doctor before using this medication. You should know that Exelon is not a permanent cure for Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease.

How to take Exelon?

Take medicine as advised by the doctor. Please don’t take it more often than recommended. While taking this medicine, you should follow all the prescription and medicine label instructions carefully. If any of the instructions are not clear to you, do ask your doctor or pharmacist. Before taking medicine, measure the dose carefully. You should try to consistent throughout your treatment. Patients should never use Exelon capsules or tablets and transdermal skin patches simultaneously; it may result in an overdose of this medication. Do tell your doctor if you are experiencing any dehydration symptoms. If you need any surgery while you are on this medication, do tell your doctor in advance. It would be best if you do not start or stop taking this medication without asking your doctor. Keep the medicine out of the reach of the children, store it at room temperature away from moisture and heat. After completion of treatment, dispose of the leftover medicine with the help of your pharmacist.

Exelon dosage

The dosage of Exelon prescribed by the doctor is dependent on several factors, such as :

The age and weight of the patient
Symptoms
The seriousness of the condition
Other medical issues that the patient is having
Other medications that the patient is using
How the patient reacted to the first dose of the medication

The doctor may prescribe the dosage of Exelon according to the different medical conditions of the patient. The following are the average dose of Exelon that a doctor can prescribe:

Dosage for Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease

For adults

An initial dose of 4.6 mg (one patch) once a day; after considering your situation for at least one month, your doctor may adjust your amount if he thinks appropriate. If you suffer from moderate symptoms of Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease, your dose may range from 9.5 mg to 13.3 mg per day. If you have severe symptoms of Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease, your amount will be 13.3 mg per day. Your doctor should not prescribe you this medication more than 13.3 mg per day in any case.

For children

The doctor will determine the right dose for the child after a full examination.

Overdose

If you feel uneasiness or symptoms of Exelon overdose while you are on this medication, you should consult your doctor and ask for medical help as soon as possible. You can also call the poison helpline number at 1-800-222-1222 and ask for medical assistance. The following are some symptoms of Exelon overdose.

Parkinson’s Vomiting
Salivation
Sweating,
Slow heartbeats
Weak or shallow breathing
Fainting
Seizure (convulsions).

What to avoid while using Exelon?

You should avoid taking alcohol after taking Exelon, as the interaction between these two can be dangerous. Taking this medication can impair your thinking process or reaction to that. You must be very careful while driving and doing activities that require alertness and attention.

Exelon side effects

Some of the common side effects of using Exelon are as follows:

Upset stomach
Nausea or vomiting
Loss of appetite
Weakness or tiredness

It is okay to experience mild side effect symptoms, but if these symptoms bother you so much and are unbearable, you must consult your doctor and ask for medical help. You should stop taking medicine and tell your doctor if you are experiencing the following severe side effect symptom:

Loss of appetite
Weight loss
Severe vomiting or nausea
Diarrhea
Bloody or tarry stools
Cough with mucus and blood
Unusual vomiting
Lightheadedness
Tremors
Restless movements in the eyes, jaws, tongue, or neck
Seizures
Problem in urination
Skin redness, itchiness, irritation
Symptoms of dehydration
Allergic reaction to the body

What drugs can interact with Exelon?

If your doctor is treating you with Exelon, he must be knowing all the possible interactions with other drugs. It is your responsibility to tell the doctor about all the over the counter medicines you take or taken in the past few days. Some of the following medications which can interact with Exelon are:

Medicine to treat mental illness
Anti-anxiety
Anti-depressants
Cold or allergy medicines
Beta-blocker or medication for blood pressure
Medicines to treat Parkinson’s disease
Treatment for nausea and vomiting
Therapy to treat upset stomach
Medication for motion sickness
Treatment for irritable bowel syndrome
Medicine to treat overactive bladder
Asthma medication
Other NSAID (a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug)

Anxiety Aids

Exelon : Drug Information