Patient/caregiver was instructed upon therapeutic uses and mechanism of action of exelon patch as follows:
- Exelon patch contains Rivastigmine, which is a medication enhancing the activity of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine in the brain.
- Acetylcholine is one of the various other neurotransmitters in the brain, helping to promote memory and cognition.
- Acetylcholine synthesized and secreted in the brain is partly utilized by nerves called cholinergic nerves, for impulse transmission, helping for memory and cognition.
- The unutilized portion of this released acetylcholine is partly picked up by the nerves again, to be released during the next nerve impulse and is partly destroyed by an enzyme called cholinesterase.
- Rivastigmine inhibits the activity of the enzyme cholinesterase, which results in reduced destruction of acetylcholine. This will contribute to improved cholinergic activity the brain.
- Rivastigmine, by improving cholinergic activity in the brain, helps with promoting memory and cognition and so, is used for the treatment of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
