Exelon Patch

Country: Australia

Language: English

Source: Department of Health (Therapeutic Goods Administration)

Active ingredient:

Rivastigmine

Available from:

Novartis Pharmaceuticals Australia Pty Ltd

Class:

Medicine Registered

Patient Information leaflet

EXELON
®
 PATCH

_Rivastigmine_
CONSUMER MEDICINE INFORMATION

WHAT IS IN THIS LEAFLET
This leaflet answers some common
questions about Exelon Patch.
It does not contain all the available
information. It does not take the
place of talking to your doctor or
pharmacist.
The information in this leaflet was
last updated on the date listed on the
final page. More recent information
on the medicine may be available.
YOU SHOULD ENSURE THAT YOU SPEAK
TO YOUR PHARMACIST OR DOCTOR TO
OBTAIN THE MOST UP TO DATE
INFORMATION ON THE MEDICINE. YOU
CAN ALSO DOWNLOAD THE MOST UP TO
DATE LEAFLET FROM
WWW.NOVARTIS.COM.AU
Those updates may contain important
information about the medicine and
its use of which you should be aware.
All medicines have risks and
benefits. Your doctor has weighed
the risks of you taking it against the
benefits they expect it will provide.
IF YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS ABOUT
TAKING THIS MEDICINE, ASK YOUR
DOCTOR OR PHARMACIST.
KEEP THIS LEAFLET WITH THE MEDICINE.
You may need to read it again.
WHAT EXELON PATCH IS
USED FOR
Exelon Patch contains rivastigmine
as the active substance. Rivastigmine
belongs to a class of substances
called cholinesterase inhibitors and is
used to treat a condition called
Alzheimer's disease.
In patients with Alzheimer's
dementia, certain nerve cells die in
the brain, resulting in low levels of
the neurotransmitter: acetylcholine (a
substance that allows nerve cells to
communicate with each other). This
causes changes in the brain and
problems with memory, thinking and
behaviour. These problems gradually
become worse with time.
Exelon Patch works by preventing
the breakdown of acetylcholine. This
chemical is needed to help keep the
brain working properly.
Rivastigmine helps to reduce the
symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, to
slow down the mental decline that
happens in people with this
condition, and helps to improve the
patient's ability to cope with
everyday activities. It does not cure
the condition.
ASK YOUR DOCTOR IF YOU HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS ABOUT WHY THIS MEDICINE
HA

Summary of Product characteristics

1 

EXELON
®
 PATCH 
(RIVASTIGMINE) 
NAME OF THE MEDICINE 
Rivastigmine base 
Structural Formula:  

Chemical name:  
(S)-N-ethyl-N-methyl-3-[1-(dimethylamino)ethyl]-phenyl carbamate 
Molecular formula:   C
14
H
22
N
2
O
2 
Molecular weight:  
250.34   
CAS number:   
123441-03-2 

DESCRIPTION 
Exelon Patch is a thin, matrix-type transdermal patch consisting of three layers that contains 
rivastigmine. 
Rivastigmine base is a viscous, clear colourless to yellow to very slightly brown liquid. 
The outside of the backing layer is beige and labelled. Each patch dose of Exelon
®
 Patch is 
labelled as follows: 
- Exelon
® 
Patch 5 with “AMCX” and "Exelon®

Patch 5 (rivastigmine)”  
- Exelon
® 
Patch 10 with “BHDI” and "Exelon®

Patch 10 (rivastigmine)” 
Excipients:  Alpha-tocopherol,  dimeticon  12500  (silicone  oil),  Durotak  387-2353,  Bio  PSA 
Q7-4302,  acrylates  copolymer,  Hostaphan  RN  23  (occlusive  backing  film)  and  Scotchpak 
9744 (release liner
).

PHARMACOLOGY 
PHARMACODYNAMICS 
Pathological  changes  in  Alzheimer’s  Disease  involve  cholinergic  neuronal  pathways  that 
project from the basal forebrain to the cerebral cortex and hippocampus. These pathways are 
known  to  be  involved  in  attention,  learning,  memory  and  other  cognitive  processes.

Rivastigmine,  a  brain-selective,  pseudo-irreversible  inhibitor  of  the  enzymes  acetyl-  and 
butyryl-cholinesterase,  is  thought  to  facilitate  cholinergic  neurotransmission  by  slowing  the 
N

C

H

3

H

O

N

C

H

3

H

3

C

O

H

3

C

H

3

C

(

S

)

2 

degradation  of  acetylcholine  released  by  functionally  intact  cholinergic  neurons.  Data  from 
ani