What Is the Rivastigmine Patch Used For?

The rivastigmine patch is used for slowing down the worsening of cognitive impairment in people with mild to moderate Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease. Although the medicine cannot cure dementia, it can help improve memory, attention, reason, language, and the ability to perform simple daily tasks. There are currently no approved rivastigmine patch uses for children, and the drug is not used off-label for other conditions.

Rivastigmine for Alzheimer's

What Is the Rivastigmine Patch Used For? -- An Overview

The rivastigmine patch (Exelon^® Patch) is a prescription medication used in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. It belongs to a group of medications known as acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and is approved for the treatment of mild to moderate dementia due to Alzheimer's or Parkinson's.

Why Is the Rivastigmine Patch Used for Parkinson's Dementia?

While most people think of dementia as related to Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease can also cause such problems. Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurological disorder that results from the degeneration of neurons in a region of the brain that controls movement. This degeneration creates a shortage of the brain-signaling chemical (neurotransmitter) known as dopamine, causing the movement impairments that are characteristic of the disease. The exact cause of Parkinson's disease is not currently known.

Often, one of the first Parkinson's disease symptoms is tremor (trembling or shaking) of a limb, especially when the body is at rest. While most people associate the disease with such physical symptoms, dementia symptoms similar to Alzheimer's disease also may occur. The rivastigmine patch is approved to treat dementia caused by Parkinson's disease. It will not help with other Parkinson's symptoms, such as trembling or shaking.

(What Is the Rivastigmine Patch Used For? Continued: Page 2)