Galantamine

Information about Galantamine

Galantamine is an oral acetylcholinesterase inhibitor used for therapy of Alzheimer disease.

Liver safety of Galantamine

Galantamine is associated with a minimal rate of serum enzyme elevations during therapy and has not been implicated as a cause of clinically apparent liver injury.

Mechanism of action of Galantamine

Galantamine (ga lan' ta meen) is a selective acetylcholinesterase inhibitor which acts by inhibition of the metabolism of acetylcholine in the postsynaptic clefts, thus enhancing cholinergic neurotransmission. Alzheimer disease is associated with a cholinergic deficiency in the cerebral cortex, and the increase in concentration of acetylcholine with acetylcholinesterase inhibition is associated with improvement in cognitive function in affected patients. Galantamine has selective activity for acetylcholinesterase in the central nervous system with little effect on the enzyme in peripheral tissue.

FDA approval information for Galantamine

Galantamine was approved for use in the United States in 2001, and current indications include mild-to-moderate dementia of the Alzheimer disease type.

Dosage and administration for Galantamine

Galantamine is available generically and under the brand name of Razadyne in tablets of 4, 8 and 12 mg and as sustained release capsules of 8, 16 and 24 mg. It is also available as an oral solution (4 mg/mL). The usual maintenance dose is 16 to 24 mg daily in two divided doses.

Side effects of Galantamine

Common side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, dizziness, fatigue, insomnia, vivid dreams, anxiety, restlessness, blurred vision, dry mouth and pruritus, symptoms common to cholinergic stimulation.

The agents used to treat Alzheimer disease include:

• Donepezil
• Galantamine
• Memantine
• Riluzole
• Rivastigmine
• Tacrine

• Dailymed label info on Galantamine
• FDA Galantamine

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