title: [Transdermal rivastigmine patch in outpatient services in Austria: a naturalistic study in 103 patients with Alzheimer dementia].
abstract: We performed a 6-month open-label study on the use of the transdermal rivastigmine patch in clinical routine in 103 patients with Alzheimer's disease from 25 outpatient services in Austria. After baseline, safety and tolerability of the 10 cm2--rivastigmine patch was assessed at week 4, 12 and 24 in all patients. A Mini Mental State Examination was done at baseline and at week 12 and 24. Skin adherence of the patch was very good or good in 85% of study participants. Only 2.9% of patients had gastrointestinal adverse events. Local skin reactions occurred in 23% of individuals. Skin alteration were mostly mild in severity. In only 6.8% of subjects did they result in termination of treatment. At the earliest skin reactions were observed after 3 months of treatment. Cognitive functioning of patients improved comparable to the controlled trial which led to approval of the rivastigmine patch. In daily routine the safety profile of the rivastigmine patch is favourable, as is the response to treatment. Local, mostly mild skin reactions affect approximately every fifth patient, and they occur relatively late in the course of therapy. Patients and their caregivers should receive detailed information about skin reactions to omit unnecessary drop outs to treatment.
authors.affiliation: Universitätsklinik für Neurologie, Medizinische Universität Graz. reinhold.schmidt@meduni-graz.at
authors.forename: Reinhold
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: Claude
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Alf
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bancher
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Benke
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Berek
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dal-Bianco
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Führwürth
authors.forename: Douglas
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Imarhiagbe
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jagsch
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lechner
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rainer
authors.forename: Franz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Reisecker
authors.forename: Juliana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rotaru
authors.forename: Margarete
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Uranüs
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Walter
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Winkler
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wuschitz
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008609:Mental Status Schedule; D048448:Phenylcarbamates / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000068836:Rivastigmine; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D048448:Phenylcarbamates; D000068836:Rivastigmine