Exelon

Benzenod is indicated for the symptomatic treatment of mild to moderately severe Alzheimer's dementia. Symptomatic treatment of mild to moderately severe dementia in patients with Idiopathic Parkinson's disease.

The most commonly reported adverse reactions are gastrointestinal, including nausea (38%) and vomiting (23%), especially during titration. Female patients in clinical studies were found to be more susceptible than male patients to gastrointestinal adverse reactions and weight loss.

Patients with sick sinus syndrome or conduction defects, resp diseases. Cholinergic stimulation may increase gastric acid secretion. May exacerbate urinary obstruction and seizures. Pregnancy. Renal impairment, mild to moderate hepatic impairment. Monitor body wt. Asthma or obstructive pulmonary disease. May worsen extrapyramidal symptoms. Lactation.

Rivastigmine is a carbamate derivative that is structurally related to physostigmine, but not to donepezil and tacrine. The precise mechanism of rivastigmine has not been fully determined, but it is suggested that rivastigmine binds reversibly with and inactivates chlolinesterase (eg. acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase), preventing the hydrolysis of acetycholine, and thus leading to an increased concentration of acetylcholine at cholinergic synapses. The anticholinesterase activity of rivastigmine is relatively specific for brain acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase compared with those in peripheral tissues.