Galantamine

What is Galantamine?

Galantamine enhances the performance of brain nerve cells. It prevents the breakdown of a substance called acetylcholine. This chemical is usually lower in people with dementia. It's important for memory, reasoning, and thinking. Galantamine can be used to treat mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease. This medication guide does not list all possible uses for galantamine.

Side effects of Galantamine

If you experience any of the following symptoms of an allergic reaction, seek immediate medical attention: hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of your lips, face, tongue, or throat. Galantamine may cause severe skin reactions. If you notice any signs of a skin rash at all, call your doctor immediately.

Galantamine may cause serious side effects. If you experience:

• Chest pain, low heart rate
• Little or no urinating is acceptable.
• Blood in urine
• Signs of stomach bleeding include bloody or tarry stool, vomiting that looks like coffee, or coughing up blood.
• Liver problems: nausea, upper stomach discomfort, itching, fatigue, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice
• Dehydration symptoms include feeling thirsty, hot, or unable to urinate. Heavy sweating or dry and hot skin.
• A feeling of lightheadedness, as if you could pass out.
• Severe skin reactions include fever, sore mouth, swelling of the face, tongue, or eyes, burning in the eyes, and skin pain. This is followed by a reddish or purple rash, which spreads to other parts of your body, especially your face and upper body, and leaves blisters and peeling.

The side effects of galantamine include:

• Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of appetite are all symptoms that can be experienced by people with this condition.
• Headache, dizziness;
• Weight loss.

There may be other side effects. For medical advice on side effects, call your doctor.Contact the FDA by dialing 1-800-FDA-1088 in order to report side effects.

Warnings

Please read and follow all instructions listed on your medication's package or label, and inform your healthcare provider of any medical conditions, allergies or medicines you are taking.

Before you take this drug

If you have an allergy to galantamine, do not use it.

Tell your doctor about any of the following to ensure that galantamine will not harm you:

• Urination problems
• Heart disorder
• A history of bleeding or stomach ulcers;
• Seizures or epilepsy;
• Kidney disease
• Liver disease
• A history of asthma, chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD), or both

Galantamine is not known to harm unborn babies. Inform your physician immediately if you are pregnant or planning on becoming pregnant. Galantamine has yet to be established as passing into breast milk or having any effect on nursing infants, so if breastfeeding occurs it's wise to notify your healthcare provider.

How to take Galantamine?

Please follow all the instructions on the prescription label. Your doctor may change your dosage from time to time in order to get you the best results. Use this medication only as directed. Do not exceed the recommended dose or use it for longer. Take the galantamine capsules once a day, in the morning. Please follow your doctor's directions. Take the galantamine oral solution (liquid or tablet) two times a day with meals. Please follow your doctor's directions. Take the capsule with food. This ensures optimal effectiveness of treatment. Avoid crushing, chewing, breaking or opening extended-release capsules before swallowing whole. Use either the supplied dosing syringe, dose-measuring cup, or spoon for measuring liquid medicines, or consult your pharmacist if no device exists for dosing measurements is available to you. Before starting treatment for any condition or disorder, always read all available information, such as medication guides or instructions, carefully. If any queries arise, consult either your physician or pharmacist immediately. Take your galantamine tablets with water; to stay hydrated and avoid dehydration, aim to drink 6-8 glasses daily. Please notify your surgeon prior to any potential surgery; in certain instances it may be necessary for you to temporarily stop taking certain medication. Contact your physician if you've recently stopped taking galantamine; the dose might need to be decreased before restarting on it again. Store liquid medicines away from moisture or heat at room temperature to avoid freezing. Do not allow liquid medicines to freeze.

Details on dosage

Adult dosage for Alzheimer's disease:
Oral solution and immediate release tablet:
Initial dose: Orally, 4 mg twice daily, preferably in the morning and evening.
After a minimum four-week period, you can increase the dose to 8 mg two times a day. Then, after another 4 weeks, you may increase it to 12 mg twice daily.
Maintenance dose: 16–24 mg/day, divided into 2 doses.
Maximum dose: 24 mg/day
Extended Release Capsule
Initial dose: 8mg orally, once daily, preferably at breakfast.
After 4 weeks, the dose can be increased to 24mg once daily.
Maintenance dose: 16–24 mg orally, once daily, based on clinical benefits and tolerability.
Maximum dose: 24 mg/day
Conversion of Immediate Release (IR) Tablets and Oral Solutions to Extended-Release Capsules
Take the last dose of the IR formulation in the evening before starting the ER capsule. Start the ER capsule the following morning with a once-daily dosing.
The conversion from IR should be done at the same daily total dosage.
Comments:
In clinical trials, a dose of 32mg per day, administered immediately, was less well tolerated, and it did not provide a statistically significant increase in clinical benefit compared to 16 mg/day. However, some patients may benefit more from consuming 24 mg/day.
Dose increases must be based on the clinical benefit and tolerance of the previous dosage.
If the therapy has been interrupted for longer than three days, it is recommended that the patient be started at the lowest dose and then the dosage be increased to the current dosage.
Use: To treat mild to moderate Alzheimer's dementia.

What happens if I miss the dose?

As soon as you recognize a missed dose, take it immediately. If your next scheduled dosage is approaching soon after taking an accidental missed one, skip it instead - do not increase dosage to compensate.

What happens if I overdose?

Call 1-800-222-1222 for poison help or seek immediate medical attention. Overdose symptoms include nausea, vomiting, and stomach cramps. Other symptoms include drooling or watery eyes.

What should be avoided?

This medication can impair your reactions or thinking. You should be careful when driving or doing anything else that requires alertness.

Interaction with other drug

Inform your doctor immediately if you begin taking any new medicines or intend to discontinue any current ones.

• Atropine;
• Cold or allergy medication that contains antihistamines (benadryl, etc.)
• Medicine to treat parkinson’s disease
• Medicine to treat excess stomach acid production, stomach ulcers, motion sickness or irritable bowel syndrome is available over-the-counter and prescription.
• Darifenacin, fesoterodine, oxybutynin, tolterodine and solifenacin; medications designed to treat bladder or urinary issues
• Bronchodilators—aclidinium, ipratropium, or tiotropium;

This list is incomplete. Galantamine may interact with other drugs, such as prescription and OTC medications, vitamins, and herbal products. This medication guide does not list all possible interactions.