Exelon (Rivastigmine)
Complete patient guide for uses, dosage, side effects, and safety information
Prescription RequiredQuick Facts
What Is Exelon Used For?
Exelon contains rivastigmine, a medication that helps treat Alzheimer’s disease by increasing important brain chemicals that help with memory and thinking.
Primary Uses
Exelon is used to treat Alzheimer’s disease in adults, a condition where brain damage occurs due to reduced numbers of cells that make important brain chemicals.
How It Works
Exelon is a cholinesterase inhibitor that increases the amount of acetylcholine in your brain. This chemical is a neurotransmitter that helps the brain send messages throughout your body. By maintaining higher levels of this chemical, Exelon may help reduce symptoms and slow down the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.
Good to know: Exelon may help reduce symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease and slow down its progression, helping with problems related to memory, thinking clearly, and normal behavior.
How to Take Exelon
Take Exelon exactly as prescribed by your doctor. The medication should be taken with meals to help your body absorb it properly.
Dosage Instructions
The usual starting dose is 1.5 mg twice daily. Your doctor may gradually increase this up to 6 mg twice daily based on how your body responds. Take one capsule with your morning meal and one with your evening meal at about the same time each day. Swallow capsules whole with water – do not crush, open, or break them.
What If You Miss a Dose?
If it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose as scheduled. Never take a double dose to make up for a missed one. If you haven’t taken Exelon for more than three days, contact your doctor before taking any more, as they may need to restart you on a lower dose.
Important: Never take a double dose to make up for a missed dose. If you’ve missed more than 3 days, contact your doctor before resuming treatment.
Available Tablet Strengths
Side Effects
Like all medications, this medicine can cause side effects. Most are mild and temporary, but some require medical attention.
Common Side Effects
These side effects occur relatively frequently and usually don’t require emergency care:
- Feeling tired, weak, or dizzy
- Nausea and vomiting
- Headaches
- Feeling anxious, restless, or annoyed
- Stomach discomfort, cramps, or pain
- Diarrhea
- Weight loss and loss of appetite
- Increased sweating or saliva production
- Feeling shaky or trembling
- Nightmares or difficulty sleeping
- Skin rash or itching
- Incontinence (unable to control urination or bowel movements)
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:
- Trouble breathing or wheezing
- Severe allergic reactions (hives, blisters, spreading rash)
- Chest pain or heart attack symptoms
- Irregular, fast, or slow heartbeat
- Signs of stroke (difficulty speaking, loss of coordination)
- Severe confusion or hallucinations
- Blood in vomit or stools
- Severe stomach pain or ulcers
- Yellow eyes or skin (liver problems)
- Severe dehydration with dizziness or fainting
- Seizures or fits
- Stiff limbs or uncontrolled movements
- Falls or changes in walking
Important Warnings
Before taking Exelon, make sure your doctor knows about all your medical conditions and other medications you’re taking.
Who Should Not Take Exelon
Do not take Exelon if you are allergic to rivastigmine, carbamates, or any ingredients in the capsules. Do not take if you have liver problems, have had severe skin reactions to Exelon patches, are under 18 years old, or if the medication is expired.
Medical Conditions to Discuss
Tell your doctor if you have kidney problems, heart conditions (irregular heartbeat, QTc prolongation), stomach ulcers, breathing difficulties or asthma, seizures, trembling, low body weight (under 50 kg), frequent vomiting or diarrhea, or Parkinson’s disease. Your doctor may need to monitor you more closely.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Check with your doctor if you are pregnant, think you may be pregnant, or plan to become pregnant. It’s not known if Exelon affects unborn babies. You should not breastfeed while taking Exelon.
Skin Reactions: If you previously had skin reactions to Exelon patches, your doctor will monitor you closely when starting capsules, as similar reactions may occur.
Drug Interactions
Several medications can interact with Exelon and affect how it works. Always tell your doctor about all medications you’re taking.
Smoking: Nicotine from cigarettes or smoking cessation products can affect how well Exelon works. Tell your doctor if you smoke or have sudden changes in smoking habits.
- Nausea medications like metoclopramide
- Blood pressure medications like atenolol (beta blockers)
- Muscle relaxants used in surgery like bethanechol
- Other cholinomimetic agents or anticholinergic medications
- Heart rhythm medications like quinidine, amiodarone, pimozide
- Antibiotics like erythromycin, moxifloxacin
- Antidepressants like citalopram
- Nicotine (cigarettes, patches, gum)
Alcohol & Driving
Exelon can affect your ability to drive safely and may interact with alcohol. Be cautious with both activities while taking this medication.
Alcohol
Tell your doctor if you drink alcohol. Exelon may make you feel dizzy or tired, and alcohol can increase these effects, making them more dangerous.
Driving and Operating Machinery
Be careful before driving or using machines until you know how Exelon affects you. The medication may cause dizziness or tiredness, especially when starting treatment or increasing doses. Do not drive or operate machinery if you feel dizzy or tired.
Storage
Store Exelon capsules in their original packaging at room temperature below 25°C (77°F). Keep them in a cool, dry place away from moisture, heat, and sunlight. Do not store in bathrooms, near sinks, in cars, or on windowsills. Keep out of reach of children. When finished with treatment, dispose of empty packaging in regular trash. Take any unused medication to a pharmacy for safe disposal.
Overdose Information
If you think you’ve taken too much Exelon, seek immediate medical attention even if you don’t feel unwell. Call the Poisons Information Centre at 13 11 26, contact your doctor, or go to the nearest hospital emergency department. Overdose symptoms may include severe nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, hallucinations, high blood pressure, slow heartbeat, and fainting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Exelon may help reduce symptoms and slow down Alzheimer’s disease progression, but the timeline for noticeable effects varies by individual. Your doctor will monitor your progress and may gradually increase your dose based on how you respond.
Yes, you should take Exelon with food. Take one capsule with your morning meal and one with your evening meal. This helps your body absorb the medication properly.
Do not stop taking Exelon suddenly without talking to your doctor first. Your doctor will provide guidance on how to safely discontinue the medication if needed.
Tell your doctor if you drink alcohol. Exelon may make you feel dizzy or tired, and alcohol can increase these effects, making them more dangerous.
If it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose as scheduled. Never double dose. If you’ve missed more than 3 days, contact your doctor before resuming treatment.
No, you should swallow Exelon capsules whole with water. Do not crush, open, or break the capsules.
Yes, nicotine from cigarettes or smoking cessation products can affect how well Exelon works. Tell your doctor if you smoke or have sudden changes in smoking habits.
Important Disclaimer
This information is intended for general educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or emergency services immediately.