Dement Neurocogn Disord.  2015 Mar;14(1):31-38. 10.12779/dnd.2015.14.1.31.

Factors Influencing Skin Tolerability to the Rivastigmine Patch in Patients with Alzheimer's Disease

• Na HR
• Park MH
• Kim S
• Yang DW
• Choi SH
• Yang HD
• Yang Y
• Han HJ
• Lee JS
• Yoon YC
• Koh SH
• Kim JE
• Ku BD
• Kim HJ
• Park KW
• Kim EJ
• Yoon B
• Park KJ

• KMID: 2443041
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.12779/dnd.2015.14.1.31

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
The one-day rivastigmine patch is reportedly well tolerated and has minimal side effects. However, Asian patients show more side effects than those in Western countries. We evaluated tolerability of the rivastigmine patch in South Korean patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and the specific factors affecting adverse events of the skin.
METHODS
A 6-month, open labeled, multi-centered, observational study was carried out in 440 patients with probable AD from July 2009 to September 2010 (NCT01312363).
RESULTS
A total of 25.9% of the patients experienced adverse skin events at the rivastigmine patch application site and 17.0% discontinued treatment due to adverse events at the skin application site. The most common adverse events were itching and erythema. Patients with an allergic history and users of electric heating appliances reported skin discomfort. Older age was associated with discontinuing treatment.
CONCLUSION
These results suggest that the rivastigmine patch induced some adverse skin events and may contribute to understanding and improving skin tolerability to the rivastigmine patch.

Keyword

rivastigmine transdermal patch; Alzheimer's disease; tolerability

MeSH Terms

Alzheimer Disease*
Asian Continental Ancestry Group
Erythema
Heating
Hot Temperature
Humans
Observational Study
Pruritus
Skin*
Rivastigmine

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Flow of participants through the study. AD: Alzheimer's disease.

• 

  Fig. 2 Summary of adverse events (AEs).

• 

  Fig. 3 Locations of skin adverse events. A: Limited erythema. B: Extended erythema.

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