Generic Name: rivastigmine
Brand Name: Exelon transdermal
Given to my mother, but doctor and pharmacy gave no warnings for side effects. She was on a beta blocker called Metoprolol. Very bad to take together. Terrible side effects. Hospitalized. Need to have pharmacy check for drug interactions and precautions. Risk to heart patients as well. Patient and family need to be told risks and things to watch for.
my 89 year old dad suffered a brain injury and has nph. He has been on the 4.6mil dose for about 6 months and has now developed a rash on his back and was recently hospitalized for a urine infection. I think it helpedsomewhat but am a little disappointed
My father uses this patch. From the get go he has had really bad red welts wherever the patch comes into contact with the skin. The itching is awful. We were told by his doctor to use Cortisone Cream (not lotion) on the area where you will be placing the new patch. Let the cream dry before putting the patch on. We also had trouble with the patch staying on when he would shower so we schedule showers at the same time so we can change the patch after the shower. Hope this helps.
First of all I'd like to mention that the mfgr of the Exelon patches, Novartis, has a patient assistance program that allows you to get the patches free after reaching the "donut hole" in medicare part D. My mother has been on this medication since 2010 when she participated in a clinical trial for a higher dose. At first we didn't know if the patches were real or placebo. After 6 months she was put on the higher dose for 6 months. We could see some improvement. When the clinical trial was over they did not provide the higher dose patches to her anymore. We switched her back to Aricept (higher dose) but she slowly got worse. I took her back to a psychiatrist that has previously prescribed meds for my mother. He prescribed 2 of the 9.5mg patches (that was the closest to the higher dose she'd been on in the trial) and this helped her. We can tell if the patches don't get changed or if the old one is taken off and new ones not put on - she will lean to one side or the other very bad.
I am 81 and was diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment 3 months ago. I began with the 4.5 patch for 30 days without any side effects. Have now used 9.5 patch for additional 75 days without side effects. I feel that my short term memory has improved in my bridge game but do not have a way to quantify this. My doctor recommended taking a foreign language and I have increased my vocabulary by 400 words in past 3 months so I feel really good about memory retention.
Memory problems improved but developed skin welts all over body. Thought it was psoriasis but still persists after 3 months of treatment with cortisone cream with limited improving. I'm on 13.3 mg dose patch,and wonder if lesser dose will help instead?
My 82 yr old mother has LBD. After 4 wks with 4.6 mg Exelon Patch her hallucinations (seeing up to 5 people after 7 pm every nite) has stopped. There is an App avail from Novaritus to help keep track of patch placement. No skin irritation or noticeable side effects at this point. Her mental clarity seems better. More good days than bad.
I have a home health patient on this that is like a member of my family we spend so much time today. It has worked pretty well for her. I didn't really believe it would work when the doctor was telling me about it but it does. I never knew her before the dementia set in but she is laughing more and just as sweet as ever. She is remembering things and doing things she has never done before. Adverse effects she was experiences is a decrease in appetite, some nausea, and vivid dreams. Some negatives about the med is the fact that it can't be the same spot for 14 days. The days I don't work this is very hard for it. Also it is hard to get the sticky residue off once I remove the patches. Overall, seems to be working good!
This medication has only been tried at the lower level. It may be that it has affected appetite (reduction) especially in mornings. Our neurologist has indicated that studies of the patch indicate a slowing of progression. Benefits according to my wife are nil. I feel that if it is true that it slows progression, it is worth the price. The first months supply can be obtained without financial outlay. The drug is about 700 dollars for a month's supply which is expensive for many people if not covered by insurance. Of course, if as is grimly forcast, there will be more Patients in future, my $5000 annual premiums will not get any cheaper.
memory improvement, stopped shaking, able to do more on his own. So far no ill effects to skin or otherwise...
After my 82 yr old mother wore the patch for 2 weeks, she became so confused she could not figure out what end of the telephone to talk in, which end of the fork to eat with.. Her awareness dropped to the point of not being able to locate the bathroom in the home she has lived in for 30+ yrs. Have spoken to several others who have had the same issues and we have now taken her off the patch. None of these things was a problem before starting on the patch. Her Dr recommended it because of a slight memory loss but the patch caused total confusion to the point she was not safe in her own home.
developed diabetes as a result of drug
82 year old male after using showed signs of slower progression of disease. Very pleased with this drug. No effects from patch or irritation to skin.
This was prescribed for my 83 year old mother who had senile dementia and Alzheimer's, in addition to Namenda. After about two weeks of religiously applying the patches, she was completely broken out in a rash and hives and was far worse as far as the dementia. I told her doctor and he casually said to just stop using it. The rash took about a week and a half to totally go away and has never returned. All the patches did was make her worse and give her a rash. They are a nuisance to deal with, peeling off the old and putting on the new. Not to mention that dementia patients will pull them off themselves anyway or spend all night trying. This was three years ago and she's no worse (or better) without the patches. An expensive waste on this patient.
started on 4.5 patch, went to 9.5 for 4 weeks saw no improvement. my wife had a TBI and underlying demyelination.
i put this on my 85 yr old father--it works great for his paranoia & memory--having alot of red welts & bad itching tho!
I am a caregiver for my husband. He has been on Exelon 9.5 for about 6 months. Initially, I noticed a marked inprovement in his ability to function. However, in the past month to six weeks, he has deteriorated quite quickly. His neurologist is planning to give him Namenda in addition to the patch.
