Galantamine

Galantamine — a natural memory aid extracted from the snowdrop flower, daffodil, spider lily, and other plants — has been a first-line treatment for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) for over a decade.

Special Precautions of Galantamine

Before taking galantamine, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have urination problems, heart disease, a heart rhythm disorder, stomach ulcers or bleeding, a seizure disorder, kidney disease, liver disease, or asthma.

Stop using galantamine and call your doctor at once if you have chest pain, slow heart rate, blood in your stools, coughing up blood, decreased urination, weakness, confusion, extreme thirst, or hot, dry skin.

There are many other medicines that can interact with galantamine. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

If you need to have any type of surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are taking galantamine. You may need to stop using the medicine for a short time.

If you have stopped taking galantamine for any reason, talk with your doctor before you start taking it again. You may need to restart the medication at a lower dose.

Galantamine can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert. What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Galantamine?

Do not use this medication if you are allergic to galantamine.

Before taking galantamine, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:

• urination problems
• heart disease or a heart rhythm disorder
• a history of stomach ulcer or bleeding
• seizures or epilepsy
• kidney disease
• liver disease
• a history of asthma
• obstructive pulmonary disease

If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take galantamine.

FDA pregnancy category B. This medication is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

It is not known whether galantamine passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using galantamine and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• chest pain, slow heart rate
• black, bloody, or tarry stools
• coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds
• weakness, confusion, decreased sweating, extreme thirst, hot dry skin; or
• urinating less than usual or not at all

Less serious side effects may include:

• feeling tired, dizzy, or light-headed
• nausea, vomiting, gas, loss of appetite
• weight loss
• headache

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088

The benefits of Galantamine are

This drug’s pedigree is impressive and has stood the test of time. In fact, it may even have mythical origins.

Some think that the memory enhancer used by the Greek hero Odysseus was none other than an herbal form of galantamine. But whether or not it’s the exact same drug used by Odysseus in Homer’s epic tale from 3,200 years ago, the effectiveness of galantamine is undeniable.

In a 2000 study done by researchers in New Zealand and published in Clinical Geriatrics, galantamine led to improved memory and brain functioning. Patients demonstrated gains in cognition and in their ability to complete daily activities.

What’s more, behavioral disturbances and psychiatric symptoms were delayed. And the effects of galantamine proved to last over the full 12 months of the study.

This research also indicated that galantamine can be used to effectively as an Alzheimer’s prevention in the development of symptoms in those with a genetic predisposition. AD-related symptoms improved by galantamine include:

• Decreased capacity for thought
• Destruction of memory
• Reduced learning capabilities
• Disruption and deterioration of communication skills
• Loss of skills necessary for daily activities
• Galantamine can — and almost always does — improve the thinking skills and memories of AD patients, and slows down the loss of those abilities. But its impact on very long-term mental abilities is uncertain, since research has not yet examined the effects of galantamine treatment beyond one year.

How It Works

Galantamine belongs to a class of Anti-Alzheimer’s agents known as acetylcholineserase inhibitors or AChEIs. AChEIs work by blocking acetylcholineserase, a chemical that reduces the amount of acetycholine in your brain. Acetycholine is a neurotransmitter, and it’s necessary for memory functioning. By protecting the acetycholine in your brain, you are protecting your memory.

Not only does galantamine protect your acetycholine, it may actually promote the production of new acetycholine. The non-prescription supplement Galanta MindTM contains nutrients — choline and vitamin B5 — that are the precursor and cofactor to the production of acetycholine.

Choline lays the groundwork for the manufacturing of acetycholine, and vitamin B5 is involved in that process. So both substances can help to maintain and restore memory and thought.

Galantamine and other AChEIs are considered to be the most promising Anti-Alzheimer’s compounds currently used for Alzheimer prevention. As with most treatments, galantamine is most effective in the early stages of the disease.