Prescription medication · Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitor
rivastigmine
Also sold as Exelon. This medicine treats mild to moderate dementia caused by Alzheimer's disease.
Data updated 2026-05-15
- 17,976
- FDA reportsModerately reported
- 4
- InteractionsFew interactions
- 99% less
- Generic vs brandHuge savings
- $21.97
- Brand price (NADAC)
What the data shows
rivastigmine (Exelon) is a prescription Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitor, reported at a middle-of-the-pack volume (17,976 FDA reports), whose generic costs a fraction of the brand (about 99% less).
Reporting volume reflects how widely a drug is used and studied, not how dangerous it is, a FAERS report documents a temporal association, never proof of cause.
rivastigmine (Exelon) is a prescription Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitor. This medicine treats mild to moderate dementia caused by Alzheimer's disease.
Rivastigmine (Exelon) is a medicine that helps improve memory and thinking in people with dementia. It works by increasing a chemical in the brain that is important for these functions.
Verify with FDA → · CMS NADAC pricing →
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Brand Price
$21.97/unit
Generic Price
$0.16/unit
Generic Savings
99%
Generic Available
Yes (11 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
NADAC price trail: RIVASTIGMINE 1.5 MG CAPSULE
Same CMS presentation as the headline generic unit price above (2 effective dates). Adjacent % compares consecutive NADAC releases for this description only, not a patient out-of-pocket quote. Latest step: +8.5% vs prior release.
| Effective | NADAC / unit | vs prior | NDCs |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 17, 2024 | $0.1471/EA | - | 2 |
| December 18, 2024 | $0.1596/EA | +8.5% | 14 |
What it does
This medicine treats mild to moderate dementia caused by Alzheimer's disease.
Common side effects
Nausea, Vomiting, Loss of appetite
Key warnings
This medicine can cause significant nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and weight loss.
The sections below are summarized in plain English from rivastigmine's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.
How It Works
Rivastigmine helps increase the amount of a chemical called acetylcholine in your brain. Acetylcholine is important for memory and thinking. By increasing this chemical, rivastigmine can help improve these functions in people with dementia.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 17,976 FDA adverse event reports.
Most-reported reactions
Adverse reactions in FAERS for rivastigmine, by number of reports
- Death
Death
2,177 reports
- Fall
Fall
1,664 reports
- Hallucination
Hallucination
1,365 reports
- Confusional State
Confusional State
1,258 reports
- Vomiting
Vomiting
885 reports
- Nausea 827
Nausea
827 reports
- Dizziness 771
Dizziness
771 reports
- Gait Disturbance 713
Gait Disturbance
713 reports
- Pneumonia 690
Pneumonia
690 reports
- Malaise 648
Malaise
648 reports
What this shows Bars show how often each reaction was reported, not how likely it is to happen, a report records a temporal association, never proof that the drug caused it.
Reports over time
Adverse-event reports filed for rivastigmine each year to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).
Year-to-year volume tracks usage, prescribing, and scrutiny, not a change in per-patient risk. Source: FDA FAERS.
Where rivastigmine sits
rivastigmine has more FDA adverse-event reports than 53% of the drugs FAERS tracks. A high position reflects how widely a drug is used and watched, not how dangerous it is.
Percentile across all drugs PlainMeds tracks by FAERS report volume. The dot is rivastigmine; the line is the median (50th percentile).
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 17,976 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2000–2025.
Total Reports
17,976
Reports Mentioning Death
4,544
25.3% of reports — not proof of cause
Hospitalization Reports
6,537
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | DEATH | 2,177 |
| 2 | FALL | 1,664 |
| 3 | HALLUCINATION | 1,365 |
| 4 | CONFUSIONAL STATE | 1,258 |
| 6 | VOMITING | 885 |
| 7 | NAUSEA | 827 |
| 8 | DIZZINESS | 771 |
| 9 | GAIT DISTURBANCE | 713 |
| 10 | PNEUMONIA | 690 |
| 11 | MALAISE | 648 |
| 12 | SOMNOLENCE | 646 |
| 13 | DIARRHOEA | 640 |
| 14 | FATIGUE | 637 |
| 15 | URINARY TRACT INFECTION | 610 |
| 16 | ASTHENIA | 609 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
This medicine can cause significant nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and weight loss. These side effects can lead to dehydration, which can be serious. If you have a skin reaction that spreads, stop taking this medicine.
Known Drug Interactions
7 DRUG INTERACTIONS Concomitant use with metoclopramide, beta-blockers, or cholinomimetic and anticholinergic drugs is not recommended (7.1, 7.2, 7.3) 7.1 Metoclopramide Due to the risk of additive extrapyramidal adverse reactions, the concomitant use of metoclopramide and rivastigmine tartrate is not recommended.
Mechanism: Both drugs can cause similar side effects related to muscle control and movement. Taking them together increases the risk of developing shaky movements or muscle stiffness.
7.3 Beta-blockers Additive bradycardic effects resulting in syncope may occur when rivastigmine tartrate is used concomitantly with beta-blockers, especially cardioselective beta-blockers (including atenolol).
Mechanism: Both of these medicines can slow your heart rate. Taking them at the same time might cause your heart to beat too slowly or make you faint.
7.2 Cholinomimetic and Anticholinergic Medications Rivastigmine tartrate may increase the cholinergic effects of other cholinomimetic medications and may also interfere with the activity of anticholinergic medications (e.g., oxybutynin, tolterodine).
Mechanism: These drugs have opposite effects on the body. Rivastigmine can prevent oxybutynin from working the way it is supposed to.
7.2 Cholinomimetic and Anticholinergic Medications Rivastigmine tartrate may increase the cholinergic effects of other cholinomimetic medications and may also interfere with the activity of anticholinergic medications (e.g., oxybutynin, tolterodine).
Mechanism: Rivastigmine works against drugs like tolterodine. This means tolterodine might not work as well when taken with rivastigmine.
This is a plain-language summary of FDA-label interaction records and does not provide individual medication-combination directions.
Common Questions
What should I do if I feel sick to my stomach after taking this medicine?
Can I take this medicine with other medicines?
How long will I need to take this medicine?
What happens if I stop taking rivastigmine?
Will this medicine cure my dementia?
Can I drive while taking this medicine?
What if I accidentally take too much rivastigmine?
How long does it take for this medicine to start working?
Can my family member give me this medication even if I forget?
What are the common side effects of rivastigmine?
Does rivastigmine interact with other medications?
What drug class is rivastigmine?
Is there a generic version of rivastigmine?
What pregnancy or breastfeeding source fields are listed for rivastigmine?
Related Medications in Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitor
Other drugs grouped near rivastigmine - same-class peers and common alternatives.
acamprosate
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alprazolam
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amitriptyline
Elavil
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amphetamine/dextroamphetamine
Adderall, Adderall XR
Adderall XR is a stimulant medicine.
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aripiprazole
Abilify
Aripiprazole (Abilify) is a medicine used to treat certain mental disorders and mood problems.
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Compare beyond drug class
Nationwide peers by FAERS volume & death-report share
Two PlainMeds-derived comparison paths for rivastigmine: nearest FDA FAERS report volume and nearest death-report share among drugs with at least 1,000 logged reports, excluding same-class neighbors listed above. Counts reflect reporting volume, not proven individual harm.
Similar FAERS report volume
Nearest drugs by total FAERS reports. This record: 17,976.
- promethazine Δ 7 reports · Phenothiazine Antiemetic / Antihistamine 17,969reports
- valganciclovir Δ 80 reports · Antiviral (Nucleoside Analog) 18,056reports
- desoximetasone Δ 183 reports · Topical Corticosteroid 18,159reports
- aprepitant Δ 236 reports · NK1 Receptor Antagonist (Antiemetic) 17,740reports
Similar death-report share
Nearest drugs by FAERS death-report share. This record: 25.28%.
- aliskiren Δ 0.24 pts · 2,229 reports · Direct Renin Inhibitor 25.03%death share
- remdesivir Δ 0.49 pts · 13,113 reports · Nucleotide Analog (Antiviral) 24.78%death share
- codeine Δ 0.69 pts · 3,245 reports · Opioid Analgesic 24.59%death share
- posaconazole Δ 1.07 pts · 15,332 reports · Azole Antifungal 24.20%death share
Medication Guides
Understanding Drug Interactions
How CYP450 enzymes, inhibitors, and inducers affect your medications
Generic vs Brand Name Drugs
FDA requirements, cost savings, and when the difference matters
Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs
FDA bioequivalence and label-record context for narrow therapeutic index medicines
Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
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What the FDA Data Shows for rivastigmine
The FDA label for rivastigmine (sold under brand names such as Exelon) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitor class. This medicine treats mild to moderate dementia caused by Alzheimer's disease. Official labeling lists 5 commonly reported side effects, including Nausea, Vomiting, Loss of appetite.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 17,976 voluntary reports. The database also lists 4 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated moderate severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $0.16 versus $21.97 for the brand - a 99% generic savings.
Report counts do not establish causation, a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information are separate source-record fields. This page is a public FDA/CMS registry and does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. This registry does not provide medication decisions.
Last updated: March 21, 2022
PlainMeds is rendered directly from FDA openFDA/FAERS extracts, DailyMed labels, and CMS drug-pricing files, no number is typed in by an editor. FAERS counts, recalls, shortages, and price figures on this page are queried live from those federal extracts. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-05-15. Primary sources: openFDA / FAERS, DailyMed and CMS Part B ASP.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled from the source snapshot dated . See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a data issue.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book - approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed - NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) - post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm - standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files - federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database - current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages