My wife is having parkinson since last 18 years, is on syndopa totalling about 700 mg per day in devided doses. She is now suffering from severe dementia since last 6 months and confined to bed. she has lost all her ADL capabilities and totally disabled.

Hello guruprasad ulman,

Welcome to the EmpowHER community. Thank you for sharing the story of your wife's improvement. Her physician, who prescribed the Exelon 10 patch, is the best person to answer your questions.

Exelon Patch is indicated for the treatment of mild to moderate dementia associated with Parkinson’s disease.

Exelon (rivastigmine) improves the function of nerve cells in the brain. It works by preventing the breakdown of a chemical that is important for the processes of memory, thinking, and reasoning. People with dementia usually have lower levels of this chemical.

This drug has been used to treat patients with Alzheimer's disease.

In the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease there is a progressive degeneration of nerve cells,particularly of the cells that make acetylcholine, a chemical thought to be important for learning and memory. Because of this, people with Alzheimer’s disease have lower brain levels of acetylcholine. It is believed that Exelon works by reducing the breakdown of acetylcholine and thus increasing the amount of the chemical in the brain.

The potential beneficial effect of Exelon could lessen as the disease progresses and when fewer cells are available to make acetylcholine.

Wishing her continued improvement,
Maryann