Is Alzheimer's Patch more Effective than a Pill?
Alzheimer's Patch is a new treatment in which delivery of Alzheimer's medication is done into patient's skin by using a patch. A drug called Exelon that falls in a class of medications called cholinesterase inhibitors is infused into the skin using a patch. The use of Alzheimer's patch eliminates the need of certain pills and also has fewer side effects compared to pill form of the same drug. Alzheimer's Patch help in slowing down the progression of disease by preventing the breakdown of acetylcholine, which is a critical chemical messenger in the brain.
Some studies even show that the use of patch can produce cognitive improvements similar to the oral medication but without any side effects. Many people with mild and moderate forms of Alzheimer's disease can be benefited with the use of patch. In patch treatment a drug called exelon is infused directly into the bloodstream through the skin. Alzheimer's patch can be infused anywhere on the dry skin, may be on arms, breast or back. Alzheimer's patch can be very well tolerated and causes no irritation but can cause redness of skin in few people.
The drug exelon is already available in the market in its pill form. And many people with Alzheimer's disease are benefited from these pills. Those who are benefited from these pills may definitely be benefited from Alzheimer's patch. They are easy to use and also don't cause side effects like exelon pills that can cause nausea and vomiting. This patch is infused only once a day and therefore is more preferable than the oral medications whose multiple doses are to be taken. People with Alzheimer's disease who suffer from memory problems may forget to take those multiple doses. Alzheimer's patch can be useful for such patients.
People with Alzheimer's disease who have swallowing problems, find it difficult to swallow pills and therefore Alzheimer's patch is of a great benefit to them. Pills go directly into the stomach while Alzheimer's patches deliver drugs through the skin. Since Alzheimer's patches bypass the stomach they may help to avoid gastrointestinal side effects like nausea and vomiting.
Some researches were conducted to find which one of the two, Alzheimer's patch or pill, is more beneficial. Some patients with Alzheimer's disease were given pills twice a day and others were given Alzheimer's patch. Patients who were given Alzheimer's patch showed significant benefits in improving cognitive abilities. Both of these have same beneficial effect, but Alzheimer's patch has fewer side effects compared to the pills.
Alzheimer's patch treatment is appreciated not only by the patients of Alzheimer's disease, but also by the caregivers who infuse the drug into the skin. Exelon drug has been already been approved by FDA. Alzheimer's patch is still not approved by FDA but will soon be approved. The use of Alzheimer's patch is safe, effective and simple.