title: Which rivastigmine formula is better for heart in elderly patients with Alzheimer's disease: oral or patch?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Rivastigmine is commonly used for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). All cholinesterase inhibitors, including rivastigmine, may cause cardiac side effects. The aim of this study is to compare the electrocardiographic (ECG) and hypotensive effects of formulations of rivastigmine.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-five newly diagnosed patients with AD who were treated with rivastigmine were retrospectively evaluated. The ECG records were reviewed at baseline and at administration of either 12 mg of oral rivastigmine or 10 cm(2) transdermal rivastigmine.
  
  
  RESULTS
  When compared with the baseline, there were no changes in any of the ECG parameters in all of the patients (P > .05). Moreover, when compared with the mean change from baseline for each treatment group, there were no changes, except heart rate (P = .035).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It was demonstrated that rivastigmine formulations were not associated with increased arrhythmogenic or hypotensive effects in elderly patients with AD and was not superior to each other.
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatric Medicine, School of Medicine, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey atisik@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Ahmet Turan
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Isik
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatric Medicine, School of Medicine, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Pinar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Soysal
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Bezmialem Vakif University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Adnan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yay
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000139:chemically induced*; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007022:Hypotension / Q000139:chemically induced*; D008297:Male; D048448:Phenylcarbamates / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000068836:Rivastigmine; D057968:Transdermal Patch
chemical_list: D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D048448:Phenylcarbamates; D000068836:Rivastigmine
keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; arrhythmia; elderly; hypotension; oral rivastigmine; rivastigmine patch