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The first patch to treat the dementia associated with Alzheimer's disease was approved Friday by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
The prescription patch from Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp. contains the drug Exelon, or rivastigmine, currently available in Canada and the U.S. in an oral solution and in capsule form.
The oral and capsule medications have already been approved for use in both Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease patients, to treat symptoms of mild to moderate dementia such as impaired thinking and memory loss.
Rivastigmine works by inhibiting the breakdown of a chemical in the brain called acetylcholine, which is believed to be important for both learning and memory.
The pharmaceutical company says the patch provides a regular and continuous dose of the drug throughout the day, and is another alternative for people who have problems swallowing pills.
Novartis says the patch will soon be available in the United States.
With files from the Associated PressShare Tools
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