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Lack of adverse pharmacodynamic drug interactions with rivastigmine and twenty‐two classes of medications
Author(s) -
Grossberg George T.,
Stahelin Hannes B.,
Messina John C.,
Anand Ravi,
Veach Jeffrey
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
international journal of geriatric psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.28
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1166
pISSN - 0885-6230
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1099-1166(200003)15:3<242::aid-gps110>3.0.co;2-7
Subject(s) - rivastigmine , pharmacodynamics , drug , adverse effect , medicine , pharmacology , intensive care medicine , pharmacokinetics , donepezil , dementia , disease
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is often associated with multiple comorbidities and subsequent polypharmacy. Treatment of AD with acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors can carry a risk of drug interaction with multiple medications often prescribed for other co‐existing illnesses. Rivastigmine is an AChE inhibitor that is enzymatically cleaved by AChE, minimally metabolized by cytochrome P450 enzymes, has low protein binding, has a short plasma half‐life, and a relatively short duration of action. Such properties make it ideal for use in this patient population. A pharmacodynamic analysis of rivastigmine administered concomitantly with other medications (22 different therapeutic classes) did not reveal any significant pattern of increase in adverse events that would indicate a drug interaction. In summary, rivastigmine was well tolerated and safely administered to a population receiving multiple medications for ‘real‐world’ comorbidities. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.