Comparative Pharmacology
Head-to-head clinical analysis: ARICEPT ODT versus EXELON.
Peer-Reviewed Evidence
Head-to-head clinical analysis: ARICEPT ODT versus EXELON.
ARICEPT ODT vs EXELON
Comparing the clinical profiles, pharmacokinetic behaviors, and safety indices of these two therapeutic agents.
Reversible acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, increasing acetylcholine concentration in the synaptic cleft of central cholinergic neurons.
Exelon (rivastigmine) is a reversible, non-competitive acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase inhibitor, increasing acetylcholine levels in the brain.
5 mg orally once daily; may increase to 10 mg once daily after 4-6 weeks.
Initial: 1.5 mg orally twice daily; after 2 weeks increase to 3 mg twice daily; then after 2 weeks increase to 4.5 mg twice daily; then after 2 weeks increase to 6 mg twice daily (maximum). For transdermal patch: initial 4.6 mg/24 hr applied once daily; after 4 weeks increase to 9.5 mg/24 hr; may increase to 13.3 mg/24 hr after additional 4 weeks.
None Documented
None Documented
Terminal elimination half-life: 70 hours (range 50-80 hours). Clinical context: Steady-state achieved in 15-21 days; once-daily dosing maintains therapeutic concentrations.
Terminal half-life: ~1.5 hours; clinical context: tid dosing recommended due to rapid elimination.
Renal: 57% (as unchanged drug and metabolites); Fecal: 15%; Biliary: minor
Renal (97%) with unchanged drug <1%; biliary/fecal as metabolites.
Category C
Category C
Cholinesterase Inhibitor
Cholinesterase Inhibitor