Exelon 3mg Capsule 14 ‘S

Description

About

Exelon 3mg Capsule 14 ‘S is used to treat mild to moderate dementia/confusion (a nervous system disorder that involves an inability to remember, think or communicate) related to Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Exelon 3mg Capsule 14 ‘S does not treat Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s disease, instead, it improves awareness, memory, and ability to perform daily life activities.

Exelon 3mg Capsule 14 ‘S belongs to a group of drugs known as an Acetylcholinesterase inhibitor that works by increasing the amount of Acetylcholine that intensifies cholinergic neurotransmission.

Exelon 3mg Capsule 14 ‘S comes in capsule form. A capsule is taken orally, usually twice daily (morning and evening) with food. The dosage of Exelon 3mg Capsule 14 ‘S is dependent upon the patient’s age, medical condition, patient’s response to the drug, any medications the patient might be having along with Exelon 3mg Capsule 14 ‘S and any adverse effects felt by the patient.

Exelon 3mg Capsule 14 ‘S is given in a low dose initially by your health professional and then gradually increased to avoid nausea and vomiting. Adverse reactions with Exelon 3mg Capsule 14 ‘S such as dizziness, drowsiness, tremors/shakiness, nausea, vomiting are usually present at the beginning of the dose until your body adjusts to the medicine. A very serious or life-threatening reaction rarely occurs with this medicine however get medical help immediately in case of difficulty in breathing or swelling of face, throat, or tongue.

Indications

Exelon 3mg Capsule 14 ‘S is used for:

• Treating dementia associated with Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease. 
• This medicine enhances the ability to think and memorize, improves daily life activities, and thus works on cognitive, functional, and behavioral problems thereby improving mental function.

How Does Exelon 3mg Capsule 14 ‘S Work:

Exelon 3mg Capsule 14 ‘S is a cholinergic agent that works as an Acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase inhibitor that prevents the breakdown of acetylcholine and increases its concentration on cholinergic synapses thereby improving cholinergic neurotransmission.

How To Use Exelon 3mg Capsule 14 ‘S: 

Exelon 3mg Capsule 14 ‘S is available in Capsule form. A capsule is taken orally, usually twice daily (morning and evening) with food.

Your doctor will begin the treatment with a low dose and will eventually increase your dosage over 2-4 weeks depending on your body’s reaction to the medication

• Avoid using a transdermal patch if Exelon 3mg Capsule 14 ‘S is taken in the form of a capsule.
• Avoid using Exelon 3mg Capsule 14 ‘S if there ever has been a reaction such as itchiness or redness, after using a transdermal patch. 

Dosage

Exelon 3mg Capsule 14 ‘S is available in capsule form.

Form and strength:

Capsule: 1.5mg, 3mg, 4.5mg, 6mg

Adult dosage:

 Initial Dose:

1.5mg twice a day for up to 2 weeks of treatment.

Titration Dose:

3mg twice a day (if the initial dose is well tolerated)

Subsequent increase with 4.5mg to 6mg twice a day (depending on the tolerability of current dosage)

Maintenance dose:

6mg twice a day is the recommended adult dose. To achieve the maximum therapeutic effects, patients should be kept on the highest dosage tolerated by their bodies.

Child dosage:

Exelon 3mg Capsule 14 ‘S is not recommended for children under 18 years of age.

Elderly dosage:

The dosage for patients aged 65 years and older is mostly the same as the adult dosage with some alterations for patients with underlying medical conditions especially renal (kidney) and hepatic (liver) diseases.

Pregnancy and Lactation

Exelon 3mg Capsule 14 ‘S may be prescribed to pregnant women only when necessary and under the supervision of a physician. 

There isn’t enough evidence that Exelon 3mg Capsule 14 ‘S passes into breast milk so it should be prescribed to lactating mothers considering the clinical need for therapy and any adverse reactions that may harm the breastfed infant.

Contraindications

Before using Exelon 3mg Capsule 14 ‘S, consult your doctor if you have a medical history of any of the following:

• Allergic to Exelon 3mg Capsule 14 ‘S or to any of its contents.
• Allergic to medicines such as darunavir (used to treat HIV) or Carbamate derivatives (used in myasthenia gravis).
• History of an allergic reaction on the site of the transdermal patch.
• Active GI bleeding

Precautions

Please tell your doctor about any of the following conditions before using Exelon 3mg Capsule 14 ‘S:

• Heart failure
• irregular/slow heartbeat
• Decrease magnesium or potassium levels in the blood
• Difficulty in passing urine
• Stomach ulcers
• Seizures
• Asthma or any severe respiratory conditions
• Impaired kidney/liver function
• Pregnancy/breastfeeding

Interactions With Other Medications

Consult your doctor about the use of the following medicines before using Exelon 3mg Capsule 14 ‘S:

• Beta-blockers such as Atenolol and timolol
• Medicines that lower heart rate such as diltiazem, sotalol, digoxin, pilocarpine.
• Triamcinolone acetonide injection
• Chlorpromazine
• Citalopram
• Halofantrine
• Methadone
• pentamidine

This document does not contain all probable drug reactions, it is advisable to keep a list of medicines in use and discuss it with your doctor (this includes prescription/nonprescription and herbal products). 

Adverse Effects

Common Adverse Effects

Following side effects may not require immediate medical attention until becomes troublesome:

• nausea/vomiting
• heartburn/indigestion
• Loss of appetite
• Stomach pain
• diarrhea/constipation
• Gas
• Headache, dizziness, or extreme tiredness
• Tremors
• Increased sweating
• Difficulty in falling or staying asleep

Rare Adverse Effects

Following side effects may require prompt attention and report to your doctor immediately as Exelon 3mg Capsule 14 ‘S may cause some serious reactions:

• rash/hives
• Difficulty in breathing/ swallowing
• Black and tarry stools
• Blood in stools
• Blood in vomiting
• Coffee like ground material in vomiting
• Difficulty or painful urination
• Seizures
• Aggressive behavior
• Hallucinations
• Uncontrolled muscle movements

How To Cope With Some Of The Adverse Effects

• Feeling or being sick (nausea or vomiting) or diarrhea –Avoid eating rich or spicy food. It might help to take medication after food. If you’re sick, try drinking small, frequent sips of water. 
• Feeling dizzy (lightheaded) or weak –If the medication makes you feel dizzy or weak, stop what you’re doing and sit or lie down until you feel better and do not rise up too fast or immediately from sitting or lying down position to a standing posture. Do not drive or use tools or machinery in case of any of these effects.
• Constipation- Can be combated by adding more fibers to the patient’s diet, asking the patient to drink plenty of fluids, and increasing their physical activity to trigger contractions in the intestines.
• Heartburn – can be dealt with by chewing on mint-flavored gum that’ll help neutralize the acid in the body. Standing up straighter, adding ginger to the daily diet, elevating the patient’s upper body, and having licorice supplements has shown to provide relief.
• Skin Rash- can be eased by applying soothing and healing lotions or creams such as calamine lotion/cream. Apply a cold compress to the rash to help reduce itchiness and redness.
• Change in color of stools/black stools-These side effects are usually transient and will go away as your body adjusts to the medicine; they are not hazardous. 

Key Facts About Exelon 3mg Capsule 14 ‘S

• Exelon 3mg Capsule 14 ‘S is a Cholinergic agent.
• Exelon 3mg Capsule 14 ‘S is taken orally (by mouth) in capsule form 
• Patients with renal or hepatic impairment should be closely monitored as Exelon 3mg Capsule 14 ‘S may cause more dose-dependent adverse reactions in such patients.
• Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea usually occurs at the beginning of treatment and are dose-dependent. They occur more commonly in women.

FAQs

#1. How to store Exelon 3mg Capsule 14 ‘S?

Exelon 3mg Capsule 14 ‘S is to be kept in an air-tight container and away from the reach of children. Store at room temperature away from heat and moisture. 

#2. Can I take Exelon 3mg Capsule 14 ‘S during my pregnancy?

Exelon 3mg Capsule 14 ‘S is not recommended during pregnancy and is given only when necessary.

#3. Can I take Exelon 3mg Capsule 14 ‘S during breastfeeding?

It depends on the importance of the drug to the mother to either discontinue breastfeeding or discontinue the medication.

#4. Will Exelon 3mg Capsule 14 ‘S affect my sexual activity?

No, there isn’t sufficient evidence to suggest that patients experience a decrease in libido.

#5. What if I take too much of Exelon 3mg Capsule 14 ‘S?

In case of overdose by accident, try to remove the patch if possible and immediately contact your doctor or nearby hospital right away.

#6. What if I miss a dose of Exelon 3mg Capsule 14 ‘S?

If you miss a dose of the medication, make sure you take it as soon as possible on that same day. If you don’t remember you missed the dose until the next dosage time or the next day, do not double the dose and take your medication as per schedule.

If you have not taken Exelon 3mg Capsule 14 ‘S for more than 3 days, consult your doctor as your treatment might again begin with a lower dose.

#7. Will Exelon 3mg Capsule 14 ‘S affect my fertility?

No, there isn’t sufficient evidence to suggest that patients experience a decrease in fertility.

#8. Can I drive after taking this medication?

This medication is known to make you dizzy hence if that happens kindly avoid driving or operating any heavy machinery.

#9. Does Exelon 3mg Capsule 14 ‘S cause addiction?

No. This drug has shown no evidence to prove addiction of any kind in any patient.

#10. What dietary instructions are to be followed when using Exelon 3mg Capsule 14 ‘S?

Continue with the normal diet until you are instructed by your doctor to follow a special diet.