Such terrible ailments as Alzheimer's disease, unfortunately, today are practically impossible to cure. Nevertheless, there are some drugs that can significantly slow down the development of disorders of the nervous system. This group includes the drug Exelon. The patch is easy to use and gives pretty good results, which makes it popular in modern medicine. So what is part of the drug and how does it affect the body? How much is the patch? What does the treatment regimen look like? The answers to these questions are of interest to many patients.
Drug release form and description
The drug "Exelon" is a patch, which is the so-called transdermal therapeutic system. In the pharmacy you can buy a small patch of oval shape, white, with a beige backing. The contact surface area is 5 square centimeters.
The main active substance of the drug is rivastigmine. There are patches containing 9 and 18 mg of this component. When wearing the patch, the medicine gradually enters the body - during the day a little more complete dose (4.6 and 9.5 mg, respectively).
The preparation also contains some auxiliary substances, in particular acrylic copolymer, alpha-tocopherol, butyl methacrylate and methyl methacrylate. In addition, the adhesive layer contains silicone oil and a silicone copolymer.
Pharmacological properties of the drug
The main component of the drug, rivastigmine, is a selective inhibitor of brain cholinesterase. This substance slows down the destruction of acetylcholine, which is produced by functionally preserved neurons, and also improves synaptic transmission processes.
The use of the drug can increase the level of acetylcholine in the cerebral cortex, as well as in the hippocampus, which leads to an improvement in cholinergic transmission. And since dementia in Alzheimer's disease and a decrease in cognitive functions of the brain are mainly associated with acetylcholine deficiency, the drug really helps to normalize the functioning of the nervous system. In addition, there is evidence that this drug slows down the synthesis of beta-amyloid and prevents the formation of amyloid plaques, which are one of the signs of Alzheimer's disease.
Indications for use
In modern medicine, this drug is used quite often, but the indications for its use are quite specific - it is mild or moderately severe dementia in Alzheimer's disease. In this case, the use of the patch is possible both in the presence of a disease, and with suspicions of its development (in this case, it helps to slow down the manifestations of the disease).
Plaster "Exelon": instruction
Of course, many patients are interested in questions about how to properly use this tool. In no case should you use it yourself. Only the attending physician, after a thorough examination, has the right to recommend the Exelon patch to the patient. The instruction contains the necessary recommendations.
As a rule, therapy is started with a lower dose, namely with a patch that provides the body with 4.6 mg of active substance per day. If the drug is well tolerated by the body for several weeks, does not cause any side effects and worsening, the dose is increased to 9.5 mg of rivastigmine per day. The duration of therapy is determined solely by the doctor - treatment can be carried out for several months, sometimes even years, if the medicine gives a positive effect. Sometimes the patch can be replaced with tablets or injections of Exelon solution or some other medicines.
In the event that it was necessary to interrupt therapy for several days or more, treatment should be restarted again with a minimum dose of the active substance.
Are there any contraindications?
There are some contraindications to the use of the drug Exelon. The patch should not be used in patients suffering from hypersensitivity to rivastigmine or any other component of the drug.
With caution, this remedy is prescribed to people suffering from bronchial asthma or other obstructive diseases of the respiratory system. Relative contraindications also include the susceptibility of patients to urinary tract obstruction and convulsive syndrome. Care is taken in the treatment of patients with impaired liver function, as well as patients whose body weight does not exceed 50 kg.
Many people are wondering if Exelon can be used during pregnancy and lactation? A patch is prescribed for pregnant women only in case of emergency, since appropriate studies that would confirm the harmlessness or, conversely, the danger of this drug to the mother and child's body have not yet been conducted. If there is a need to apply the patch during lactation, then breastfeeding should be stopped.
Possible side effects of using the patch
Are there any possible complications associated with the use of the Exelon patch? Reviews of doctors indicate that adverse reactions develop relatively rarely, especially in comparison with taking the tablet form of the drug. Nevertheless, violations are possible, and their list is worth familiarizing with:
- Most often, therapy leads to disruption of the digestive system, which is accompanied by nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, dyspepsia. Very rarely, against the background of therapy, ulcerative lesions of the mucous membrane develop.
- Some reactions from the nervous system are possible, including anxiety, delirium, fainting, headaches, depression, hallucinations.
- Some patients have reported minor skin allergic reactions, including rash and redness. Sometimes erythema or inflammation develops at the patch site.
- From the side of the cardiovascular system cerebrovascular accidents, bradycardia are possible.
- Other possible side effects include anorexia, weight loss, fatigue, fever, insomnia, and urinary tract infections.
If you have any violations, you should definitely consult a doctor. Perhaps this drug is not suitable for the patient, or perhaps it is only necessary to adjust the dosage.
Overdose and its symptoms
Is an overdose possible when Exelon (patch) is used? The instructions for use contain information that such cases are recorded extremely rarely and, as a rule, are not too dangerous. Symptoms of accidental overdose include high blood pressure, nausea, sometimes vomiting, and hallucinations. Bradycardia or fainting is extremely rare. Specific treatment is usually not required. After stopping the intake, the body returns to normal after 1-2 days.
Are there any effective analogues?
Of course, this drug is far from suitable for everyone. Is it possible to replace the drug Exelon with something? Analogues of it, of course, exist, but only the attending physician can choose the right one.
Quite often, patients with a similar diagnosis are prescribed Alzenorm. Good results can be obtained using drugs such as Khloprotiksen and Memantine. Also, to slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease, patients are often recommended to take the Noojeron medication. But it is worth noting that all of the above funds are available in tablets, capsules or injectable solutions. In some cases, the patch is much more convenient to use.
How much is the patch?
Of course, for many patients an important issue is the cost of a drug. So how much does the Exelon patch cost? The price will depend on many factors. In particular, it is necessary to take into account the manufacturer, the dosage of the active substance, etc. A package of 30 plasters costs about 3600-4500 rubles. As a rule, this amount of drug is enough for a month. By the way, I must say that in some clinics this medicine is given free of charge, according to the prescription for patients with Alzheimer's disease (ask your doctor about this information).
Exelon patch: reviews
In some cases, much more useful information can be obtained by reading the opinion and experience of patients who have already managed to undergo treatment. So what do they say about Exelon? Reviews are for the most part positive. Experts note that the correct use of the drug really helps to eliminate some symptoms and improve the patient's condition.
How effective is the Exelon patch? Patient reviews indicate that positive results are indeed available. In some cases, the progression of the disease can be slowed down for a year or for a longer time. Nevertheless, it is worthwhile to understand that Alzheimer's syndrome is an extremely serious condition and there is no cure today. Therefore, do not take the patch as a guarantee of recovery, since it, unfortunately, is impossible.