Exelon Patches: FDA Approved Treatment for Dementia in Alzheimer's or Parkinson's

Application, Dosing & Side Effects

In the United States, millions of adults either suffer from dementia complications associated with Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, or know someone who does. For many patients, the dementia complications associated with these disorders is progressive and, ultimately, can impede on quality of life.

In an effort to remedy the complications associated with Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation distributes an FDA approved prescription drug known as the Exelon Patch. The Exelon Patch has shown to be effective at controlling, to some extent, the dementia associated with these progressive, age-related, complications and can also be offered in capsule or tablet form.

When dosing the Exelon Patch, in the treatment of Alzheimer's or Parkinson's related dementia, it is recommended as a progressive dosing plan. With the initial four weeks of treatment with recommended use of 4.6 milligram patches, once every 24 hours, and then progressing to 9.5 milligram patches, once per day, thereafter. This, of course, will depend on how well the initial dosing is tolerated and what, if any, side effects may have presented during the first four weeks of treatment.

Application of the Exelon patch is also quite simple with most healthcare professionals recommending application in the upper or lower back where the patient is unable to access or remove the patch during the day. For this reason, the major drawback to using the Exelon Patch is in the patient's inability to self-administer the patch, often requiring the services of a medical aide to ensure it is applied correctly and in a bodily area where optimal therapeutic benefit is achieved.