Rivastigmine (riv-a-STIG-meen) is used to treat the symptoms of mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. Rivastigmine will not cure Alzheimer's disease, and it will not stop the disease from getting worse. However, rivastigmine can improve thinking ability in some patients with Alzheimer's disease.

In Alzheimer's disease, many chemical changes take place in the brain. One of the earliest and biggest changes is that there is less of a chemical called acetylcholine (ACh). ACh helps the brain to work properly. Rivastigmine slows the breakdown of ACh, so it can build up and have a greater effect. However, as Alzheimer's disease gets worse, there will be less and less ACh, so rivastigmine may not work as well.

Take this medicine only as directed by your doctor.Do not take more or less of it, and do not take it more or less often than your doctor ordered. Taking too much may increase the chance of side effects, while taking too little may not improve your condition.

Rivastigmine is best taken with food.

Rivastigmine seems to work best when it is taken at regularly spaced times, usually two times a day, in the morning and evening.

Dosing?

The dose of rivastigmine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of rivastigmine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

For oral dosage form (capsules):
For treatment of Alzheimer's disease:
Adults?To start, 1.5 milligrams (mg) twice a day. Your doctor may increase your dose gradually if you are doing well on this medicine. However, the dose is usually not more than 6 mg twice a day.

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur.

More common
Diarrhea; indigestion; loss of appetite; loss of strength; nausea and vomiting; weight loss


Less common
High blood pressure; fainting


Rare
Aggression; convulsions (seizures); trembling and shaking of hands and fingers; trouble in urinating


Symptoms of overdose
Seizures; fast weak pulse; greatly increased sweating; greatly increased watering of mouth; irregular breathing ; increasing muscle weakness; large pupils; low blood pressure; nausea; slow heartbeat; vomiting (severe)


Other side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. However, check with your doctor if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome.

More common
Abdominal or stomach pain or cramping; bloated full feeling; confusion; constipation; mental depression; dizziness; fatigue; headache ; seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there; trouble in sleeping


Less common
General feeling of discomfort or illness; increased sweating; runny nose


Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor.

Drug interactions can result in unwanted side effects or prevent a medicine from doing its job. Use our drug interaction checker to find out if your medicines interact with each other

If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. Symptoms of overdose include severe nausea, vomiting, sweating, slow pulse, dizziness, lightheadedness, slow breathing and seizures.

DO NOT SHARE THIS MEDICINE with others for whom it was not prescribed. DO NOT USE THIS MEDICINE for other health conditions. KEEP THIS PRODUCT out of the reach of children. IF USING THIS MEDICINE FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, obtain refills before your supply runs out.

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if you do not remember within a few hours, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses. Do not take your morning and evening doses close together.

This medicine is a cholinesterase inhibitor used to treat loss of memory and thinking ability associated with Alzheimer's Disease.

To store this medicine:

Keep out of the reach of children.
Do not store in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down.
Store away from heat and direct light.
Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Ask your health care professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use. Be sure that any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits.

Tell your doctor if your symptoms get worse, or if you notice any new symptoms.

Before you have any kind of surgery, dental treatment, or emergency treatment, tell the doctor medical doctor or dentist in charge that you are taking this medicine. Taking rivastigmine together with medicines that are sometimes used during surgery or dental or emergency treatments may increase the effects of these medicines.

Rivastigmine may cause some people to become dizzy, clumsy, or unsteady. Make sure you know how you react to this medicine before you drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are dizzy or are not alert.

Rivastigmine causes a large number of patients to have problems with their stomachs and intestines. Tell your doctor about any nausea, vomiting, stomach pain or loss of appetite.

Do not stop taking this medicine or decrease your dose without first checking with your doctor. Stopping this medicine suddenly or decreasing the dose by a large amount may cause mental or behavior changes.

If you think you or someone else may have taken an overdose of rivastigmine, get emergency help at once. Taking an overdose of rivastigmine may lead to convulsions (seizures) or shock. Some signs of shock are large pupils, irregular breathing, and fast weak pulse. Other signs of an overdose are severe nausea and vomiting, increasing muscle weakness, greatly increased sweating, and greatly increased watering of the mouth.