The FDA ( Food and Drug Administration ) has approved Exelon ( Rivastigmine ) for the treatment of mild to moderate dementia associated with Parkinson's disease.

Exelon was previously approved for the treatment of mild to moderate dementia of the Alzheimer's type.

The approval of Exelon for the treatment of Parkinson's dementia is based on the results of a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical study with 541 patients who showed symptoms of mild to moderate dementia two years or later after their diagnosis for Parkinson's disease.
At the end of the 24-week trial, the condition of the Exelon-treated patients, as shown on a scale that measures mental processes, was significantly better than the condition of the patients on placebo.

The use of Exelon has been associated with significant gastrointestinal adverse reactions.
In clinical trials, 47 percent of the patients treated with the drug developed nausea, and 26 percent of women and 18 percent of men on high doses of Exelon experienced significant weight loss.
Other common adverse events reported by patients on Exelon include vomiting, anorexia, dyspepsia and asthenia.
In some patients with Parkinson's disease, treatment with Exelon was associated with a worsening of tremor.

Source: FDA, 2006


XagenaMedicine2006