title: Evaluation of the convenience of changing the rivastigmine administration route in patients with Alzheimer disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Rivastigmine transdermal patches for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD) have potential benefits compared to capsules because of their sustained absorption through the skin, good local tolerability and reduction of gastrointestinal problems.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess gastrointestinal and skin tolerability and the need for optimal dose titration of rivastigmine transdermal patches in Alzheimer's disease patients previously treated with oral rivastigmine.
  
  
  METHODS
  A multicenter, randomized, open-label study including patients with mild to moderate AD (DSM-IV) previously treated with rivastigmine capsules (6-12 mg/day) was conducted. Patients were randomized to: continue with capsules for 3 months (n=49) or switch to rivastigmine patch without titration (9.5mg/day for 3 months; n=48), or switch to rivastigmine patch with titration (4.6 mg/day for 1 month followed by 9.5mg/day for 2 months, n=43).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Incidence of gastrointestinal adverse events was 6.1% in the group treated orally and 4.2% in the group treated with non-titrated patches (P=.908). Skin tolerability was good (n=15, 16.7%) without any serious adverse events registered. Patch treatment was considered very easy to use by 72% of patients compared with 30% in the group with oral treatment (P=.0005). 60% of patients were satisfied with the patch, while only 14% were satisfied with capsules (P<.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Rivastigmine patches have a tolerability profile similar to that shown by capsules, but are associated with greater patient satisfaction.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Neurología, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, España. rblesa@santpau.cat
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Blesa González
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boada Rovira
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Martínez Parra
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gil-Saladié
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Almagro
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Gobartt Vázquez
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D048448:Phenylcarbamates / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000068836:Rivastigmine
chemical_list: D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D048448:Phenylcarbamates; D000068836:Rivastigmine