Using the Exelon Patch to Treat Alzheimer's

Yes. Exelon Patch is available in three dosage strengths. Doctors typically prescribe a starting dose of 4.6 mg/24 hours per patch to assess tolerability. If the starting dose is well tolerated after 4 weeks, ask the doctor if introducing the effective dose of 9.5 mg/24 hours is right for your loved one. When greater benefit is needed while on the 9.5 mg/24 hours patch and if still well tolerated for 4 weeks, your loved one's doctor may prescribe the maximum effective dose of 13.3 mg/24 hours.

After 4 weeks, if your loved one is tolerating the medication, ask the doctor if introducing the effective dose of 9.5 mg/24 hours is right for him or her. Only after treatment has been titrated to a dose of 9.5 mg/24 hours and if greater benefit is needed, will treatment with a dose of 13.3 mg/24 hours be considered. For special populations (patients under 50 kg [110 lb] and patients with mild to moderate hepatic impairment), the HCP will consider using Exelon Patch 4.6 mg/24 hours as the initial and maintenance dose.

Speak with your doctor if your loved one weighs less than 50 kg/110 pounds, as patients with a body weight below 50 kg/110 pounds may experience more adverse events. Caution should be used in higher than recommended doses. For this population, the HCP will consider using Exelon Patch 4.6 mg/24 hours as the initial and maintenance dose.

Speak with your doctor if your loved one is overweight. No specific studies investigating overweight people have been conducted.

Unopened patches can be used up to the expiration date printed on the protective pouch. Once the pouch is opened, the Exelon Patch should be applied immediately. Patches start to lose their medicine when exposed to the air.

You should store the Exelon Patch in its unopened, protective pouch at room temperature, between 59° and 86° F, and out of direct sunlight. Be sure to keep the Exelon Patch and all medicines in a safe, secure place out of the reach of children. Throw away any unused medicine after the expiration date.

Exelon Patch should be kept out of excessive sunlight or saunas for long periods of time.

This has not been studied; however, we do not recommend overlapping a patch treating something different. Tell the doctor about all other prescription or nonprescription medicines the patient is taking. Exelon products should not be taken at the same time with other medicines that have a similar effect on the body and the brain (cholinomimetic agents) or with anticholinergic medicines. Inform the doctor if the patient needs surgery requiring anesthesia while using the Exelon Patch.

No. Once the pouch is opened, the Exelon Patch should be immediately applied. Patches start to lose medicine and become less effective if left opened.

No. The Exelon Patch should not be cut or folded sharply.

You may write on the Exelon Patch with a thin ballpoint pen.

If you have not been applying the Exelon Patch for three days, do not apply the next patch before you have talked to a doctor. If you forgot to apply your loved one's Exelon Patch, remove the old patch and apply a new one immediately. Apply the next patch at the usual time the next day.

You can shave the application site. However, it's best not to shave the site just prior to application because the skin is often slightly irritated from shaving. If you must shave a site, do so 24 hours before applying the patch.

Always apply your loved one's patch to clean, dry skin. Do not use creams, oils, powder, or makeup on skin where you are going to put the patch or near a patch he or she is wearing.

If your loved one has oily skin, it may be more difficult to keep the patch on. Gently clean the application area with soap and warm water and pat the area dry with a towel. Then immediately apply the patch, pressing firmly.

Do not apply the Exelon Patch to oily, broken, burned, sunburned, cut, or irritated skin. Choose another area to apply the patch, as shown in the instructions.

It is not recommended that the patch be applied over a tattoo.

If the Exelon Patch is not staying on during application, it is possible that the skin is wet or that it is not pressed firmly into place. The patch should be applied and held firmly in place for 30 seconds. Also, some soaps, creams, or lotions may keep the patch from sticking. Check with your doctor or pharmacist to make sure you followed the application instructions correctly. If your Exelon Patch falls off, put on another patch right away and then replace the new patch the next day at the same time as usual. Do not use overlays, bandages, or tape to secure patches that have loosened or reapply patches that have fallen off.

Bathing, swimming, or showering should not affect the patch. You can wear the patch under your swimsuit. Make sure the patch does not loosen during these activities. The patch should not be exposed to any external heat sources (eg, excessive sunlight, saunas, solarium) for long periods of time.

Gently soak the area with warm water and mild soap, or use a small amount of baby oil to remove any residue. If the rings of adhesive become soiled, you may need to use a medical adhesive removal pad that should be available from a pharmacist. Alcohol or other dissolving liquids (nail polish remover or other solvents) may irritate the skin and should not be used.

Rubbing the Exelon Patch has not been studied.

The medicine goes through the adhesive part of the Exelon Patch; therefore, the person who touched the sticky part of the patch should clean his or her hands with soap and water as soon as possible. Avoid contact with the eyes.

Remove the Exelon Patch from your loved one's mouth and contact the doctor immediately. Your loved one may have ingested some of the medicine in the patch; how much depends on how long it was chewed. Make sure that no part of the patch is still in his or her mouth.

If a child comes into contact with the Exelon Patch out of its protective pouch, take the patch away and immediately contact a doctor. If a doctor cannot be reached, call the local poison control center, or the emergency department at a local hospital. Used and unused patches should be kept out of the reach of children and disposed of in a place away from children.

Speak with the doctor if your loved one needs to have an MRI. The Exelon Patch has not been studied in use by people while having an MRI. Please contact your doctor for further information.

Do not use Exelon Patch if you: are allergic to rivastigmine, carbamate derivatives, or any of the ingredients in Exelon Patch, or if you have had a skin reaction that:

• Spread beyond the Exelon Patch size
• Had blisters, increased skin redness, or swelling
• Did not get better within 48 hours after you removed the Exelon Patch

Ask your health care provider if you are not sure if you should use Exelon Patch.

Some people have had a serious skin reaction called allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) when using Exelon Patch. Stop using Exelon Patch and call your health care provider right away if you experience reactions that spread beyond the patch size, are intense in nature and do not improve within 48 hours after the patch is removed. Symptoms of ACD may be intense and include:

• Itching, redness, swelling, warmth or tenderness of the skin
• Peeling or blistering of the skin that may ooze, drain, or crust over

No, it is only available in beige.

The name is there for the safety of the patient as well as for those who may come in contact with a discarded patch. Because patches are popular for different treatments, having the name there also makes it easier to tell the Exelon Patch apart from other patches.