Comparative Pharmacology
Head-to-head clinical analysis: ARICEPT versus EXELON.
Peer-Reviewed Evidence
Head-to-head clinical analysis: ARICEPT versus EXELON.
ARICEPT vs EXELON
Comparing the clinical profiles, pharmacokinetic behaviors, and safety indices of these two therapeutic agents.
Reversible inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase, increasing acetylcholine levels in the synaptic cleft of the central nervous system.
Exelon (rivastigmine) is a reversible, non-competitive acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase inhibitor, increasing acetylcholine levels in the brain.
Initial: 5 mg orally once daily for 4-6 weeks; may increase to 10 mg once daily. Maximum: 10 mg per day. Route: oral. Frequency: once daily.
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
70 hours (terminal elimination half-life; steady-state reached in 15-21 days; once-daily dosing appropriate)
Terminal half-life: ~1.5 hours; clinical context: tid dosing recommended due to rapid elimination.
Renal (57% unchanged drug, 17% as metabolites), fecal (30%), biliary (minimal)
Renal (97%) with unchanged drug <1%; biliary/fecal as metabolites.
Category C
Category C
Cholinesterase Inhibitor
Cholinesterase Inhibitor