INTRODUCTION

EXELON 6MG contains Rivastigmine which belongs to the group of medicines called Cholinesterase inhibitors. It is used in adult patients for the management of mild to moderately severe Alzheimer’s dementia (progressive disease that destroys memory and other important mental functions). It can also be used for the management of mild to moderately severe dementia (group of thinking and social symptoms that interferes with daily functioning) in adult patients with Parkinson’s disease (a brain disorder that causes a gradual loss of muscle control).

EXELON 6MG should be used with caution in patients with asthma, severe respiratory disease, impaired liver or kidney function and heart conditions such as irregular or slow heartbeat, heart attack or heart failure.

Before taking EXELON 6MG inform your doctor if you had or have low levels of potassium or magnesium in the blood, active stomach ulcer, difficulty in passing urine, seizures and low body weight (below 50kg). EXELON 6MG should be used in pregnant women only if clearly advised by the doctor and it is not recommended for use in breastfeeding women.

EXELON 6MG should be used with caution in elderly patients (aged 65 years and above). The most common side effects of taking EXELON 6MG are dizziness, loss of appetite, stomach problems such as nausea or vomiting, diarrhoea, headache, heartburn, weight loss, stomach pain and difficulty in sleeping. Consult your doctor if any of the side effects worsen.

USES OF EXELON 6MG

Used in adult patients to manage:

• mild to moderately severe Alzheimer’s dementia
• mild to moderately severe dementia with Parkinson’s disease

HOW EXELON 6MG WORKS

EXELON 6MG works by blocking the enzymes that break down acetylcholine (such as acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase). By blocking these enzymes, it allows levels of acetylcholine to be increased in the brain, which helps to reduce the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia associated with Parkinson’s disease.

DIRECTIONS FOR USE

Take EXELON 6MG as advised by your doctor. Swallow the medicine as a whole with a glass of water. Do not crush or chew the medicine. Your doctor will decide the correct dose and duration of EXELON 6MG for you depending upon your age, body weight and disease condition.

SIDE EFFECTS OF EXELON 6MG

HOW TO MANAGE SIDE EFFECTS

Dizziness:

Lie down until dizziness is gone, then get up slowly. Move slowly and carefully, do not hurry. Get adequate rest. Drink plenty of water and other fluids. Avoid coffee, cigarettes, alcohol, and drugs. Consult your doctor if the symptom gets worse.

Nausea and vomiting:

Take EXELON 6MG with or just after meals. Stick to simple meals. Avoid eating oily, fried or spicy foods. Do not lie down or sleep immediately after eating. Consult your doctor if the symptom does not improve.

Diarrhoea:

Drink lot of fluids such as water or fruit juice to keep yourself hydrated. Avoid eating high-fat or spicy foods. Do not consume any medicine on your own to manage diarrhoea without consulting your doctor.

Headache:

Drink ample amount of water and avoid skipping meals. Get adequate rest. Try to be relaxed and stress-free. Apply pain relieving balm on your forehead if necessary. Consult your doctor if the symptom does not improve.

Stomach Pain:

Try to rest and relax. Eat and drink slowly or try to have smaller and frequent meals. Keep a heating pad on your stomach. If the symptom does not improve, consult your doctor.

WARNING & PRECAUTIONS

INTERACTIONS

A. Drug – Drug Interactions:

Before taking EXELON 6MG inform your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:

• anticholinergic medicines such as oxybutynin, tolterodine (used to manage overactive bladder), dicyclomine (used to relieve stomach cramps or spasms) and trihexyphenidyl (used to manage parkinson’s disease)
• betablockers such as atenolol (used to manage high blood pressure, angina, and other heart conditions)
• timolol (used to manage glaucoma)
• diltiazem, sotalol, digoxin, pilocarpine (used to manage heart conditions)
• chlorpromazine, levomepromazine, sulpiride, sultopride, amisulpride, tiapride, veralipride, pimozide, haloperidol, droperidol (used to manage some mental health conditions)
• cisapride (used to manage stomach and gut problems)
• citalopram (used to manage depression)
• diphemanil (used to manage peptic ulcer and gastric hyperacidity)
• antibiotics such as erythromycin IV, moxifloxacin (used to manage bacterial infections)
• halofantrine (used to manage malaria)
• mizolastine (used to manage allergies)
• methadone (used to manage pain and heroin addiction)
• pentamidine (used to manage pneumonia)

Overdosage:

If you or anyone else accidentally take too much of EXELON 6MG, consult your doctor immediately or visit the nearby hospital. The symptoms of overdosage are decrease in the size of the pupils, flushing, stomach pain, difficulty in breathing, increase in phlegm, increased sweating, loss of control of bowel movements, incontinence, increased production of saliva or tear, changes in blood pressure, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and hearing, seeing and feeling things that are not there (hallucination), slow heartbeat and fainting, muscular weakness, twitching, fits, dizziness, shaking, headache, excessive sleepiness, confusion and a general feeling of discomfort.

SYNOPSIS

MORE INFORMATION

• Keep EXELON 6MG out of reach of children
• Store at room temperature

FAQs ABOUT EXELON 6MG

Can EXELON 6MG cause headache?

Yes, EXELON 6MG may cause headaches in some individuals. To manage this effect, drink ample amount of water and avoid skipping meals. Get adequate rest. Try to be relaxed and stress-free. Apply pain relieving balm on your forehead if necessary. Consult your doctor if the symptom does not improve.

How does EXELON 6MG work?

EXELON 6MG works by blocking the enzymes that break down acetylcholine (such as acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase). By blocking these enzymes, it allows levels of acetylcholine to be increased in the brain, which helps to reduce the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia associated with Parkinson’s disease.

Is EXELON 6MG safe to use during pregnancy?

EXELON 6MG is not recommended for use in pregnant women unless clearly advised by your doctor. Consult your doctor before taking EXELON 6MG if you are pregnant or planning to get pregnant.

Can EXELON 6MG be used in patients with heart problems?

EXELON 6MG should be used with caution in patients with heart disease such as irregular or slow heartbeat, heart attack or heart failure. Consult your doctor before taking EXELON 6MG.

Is EXELON 6MG safe to use in elderly patients?

EXELON 6MG should be used with caution in elderly patients (aged 65 years and above). Your doctor may adjust the dose with the lowest effective dose depending upon the severity of the condition and vital organ functions.

REFERENCES

1. KD Tripathi MD. Drugs acting on ANS. Essentials of Medical Pharmacology 7th ed. New Delhi, May 2013. Page – 108.

2. Palmer Taylor. Anti-cholinesterase agents. Goodman & Gilman’s: The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics. 12th ed. New York, New York: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2011. Page - 253.

3. Katzung BG. Special Aspects of Geriatric Pharmacology. Basic and Clinical Pharmacology. 11th ed. New Delhi, India: Tata McGraw Hill Education Private Limited; 2009. Page - 1041.

4. Briggs GG, Freeman RK, editors. A Reference Guide to Fetal and Neonatal Risk: Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer Health; 2015. Page - 1229.

5. Thomas Muller. Rivastigmine in the management of patients with Alzheimer’s disease. NIH: National Library of Medicine, National Center for Biotechnology Information, PMC Pubmed Central. April 2007. [Accessed on 30th June 2022] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2654625/

6. McDermott Laboratories. Electronic Medicines Compendium (EMC). [Revised in April 2021] [Accessed on 30th June 2022] https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.8495.pdf