Tolerability of rivastigmine transdermal patch in patients with Alzheimer’s disease: a narrative review

Abstract

Introduction: The rivastigmine transdermal patch was developed to provide similar efficacy to oral rivastigmine in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), but with improved tolerability. Areas covered: Randomized clinical trials and observational studies reporting on the tolerability of the rivastigmine transdermal patch in patients with AD, identified through a systematic literature search. Expert opinion: Rivastigmine was the first cholinesterase inhibitor for which a transdermal formulation was developed; consequently, there is a substantial body of evidence on its efficacy and tolerability. The incidence of gastrointestinal AEs is markedly reduced with the transdermal patch compared with oral rivastigmine, while the efficacy of the patch remains similar to that of the oral formulation. Application site reactions are generally mild and do not cause much discomfort for the patient, and the risk of can be reduced by simple measures such as site rotation and good skin care. Tolerability of the patch improves over time, including at the highest dose level. Overall, the available evidence supports transdermal rivastigmine being generally well tolerated at doses up to 13.3 mg/24 h in patients with AD.