Table 2.

Practical tips and comments on utility of rivastigmine patch, based on clinical experience

• May help to improve patient compliance; may be ideal for patients who already have high medication burdens or swallowing problems.

• May reduce caregiver stress as caregivers indicated reduced interference with daily life and greater overall satisfaction.

• Skin reactions may occur; irritant reactions account for the majority of cases, and are generally harmless and manageable.

• The risk of skin irritation can be minimized by:

○ rotating the application site daily

○ removing the patch gently (avoiding “ripping”)

○ removing residual adhesive with oil‐based substances such as olive oil

○ keeping skin healthy by moisturizing

○ trimming rather than shaving any hair at the application site.

• Should irritation occur, moisturizer can be used to speed healing, antihistamines, or ointments can relieve troublesome itching.

• Ensure that there are no misunderstandings regarding application sites; only one site should be used at a time. Do not cut the patch. The old patch should be removed before a new patch is applied, and the old one should be properly disposed of as it still contains active substance.