For those who are starting Alzheimer's or Parkinson's treatment with rivastigmine, dosing typically starts low and is increased gradually. The usual starting dose is 1.5 mg, taken twice a day. Your healthcare provider will most likely increase your rivastigmine dose after two to four weeks and continue to do so until an effective and safe dosage is reached.
An Introduction to Rivastigmine Dosing
The dose of
rivastigmine tartrate (
Exelon®) that your healthcare provider recommends will vary, depending on a number of factors, including:
- How you respond to rivastigmine
- Other medications you may take
- Other medical conditions you may have.
As is always the case, do not adjust your dose unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so. This article refers to the oral forms of rivastigmine (capsules and oral solution). The drug also comes in patch form
(see Rivastigmine Patch Dosing).
Rivastigmine Dosing for Alzheimer's Dementia
The starting dose of rivastigmine for
Alzheimer's treatment is 1.5 mg twice daily. After two weeks, your healthcare provider may increase the dose to 3 mg twice daily. If necessary, your healthcare provider may further increase your dose to 4.5 mg twice daily after another two weeks. Finally, after another two weeks, if necessary (and if you tolerate rivastigmine well), your healthcare provider may increase your dose up to the maximum recommended amount: 6 mg twice daily.
Let your healthcare provider know if you develop bothersome or severe
side effects of rivastigmine, such as severe nausea or vomiting. He or she may recommend stopping the drug for a short while and then restarting at the same or lower dose. If, at any time, you stop taking rivastigmine for an extended period, you must start over at the beginning dose and increase it slowly as before.
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