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| Pronunciation |
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 (ga
LAN ta
meen) |
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| Brand Names |
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| Reminyl® |
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| Therapeutic
Categories |
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Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitor (Central) |
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| Reasons not to take this
medicine |
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- If you have an allergy to galantamine or any other part of the
medicine.
- If you have severe liver or kidney disease.
- If you are taking any anticholinergic agents such as atropine,
benztropine, dicyclomine, glycopyrrolate, hyoscyamine, procyclidine,
scopolamine, tolterodine, trihexyphenidyl,
trimethobenzamide.
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| What is this medicine used
for? |
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- This medicine is used to treat Alzheimer's disease. It may help
improve memory.
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| How does it work? |
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- Galantamine increases a chemical in the brain called acetylcholine.
Acetylcholine may aid in memory
function.
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| How is it best taken? |
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- Take with food. Take with breakfast and dinner.
- Drink plenty of liquids (8-10 glasses of water or juice) everyday
unless told to drink less liquid by healthcare provider.
- Medicine must be taken exactly as directed.
- If you miss more than 3 days of this medicine, start at the lowest
dose and increase slowly to the dose you are using
now.
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| What do I do if I miss a
dose? |
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- Take a missed dose as soon as possible.
- It is best to take with a meal. If it is not time for a meal then skip
the missed dose. Return to your regular schedule.
- Do not take a double dose or extra
doses.
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| What are the precautions when
taking this
medicine? |
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- Avoid alcohol (includes wine, beer, and liquor), other medicines and
herbs that slow your actions and reactions. This includes sedatives,
tranquilizers, mood stabilizers, or pain medicine. Talk with healthcare
provider.
- You may not be alert. Avoid driving, doing other tasks or activities
until you see how this medicine affects you.
- If you had a stomach ulcer or bleeding, tell healthcare provider.
- If you have a slow heart rate, tell healthcare provider.
- Use caution if you have liver disease. Talk with healthcare provider.
- Use caution if you have lung disease. This includes asthma, chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease, or if you use an inhaler like albuterol or
ipratropium.
- Use caution if you have a seizure history. Talk with healthcare
provider.
- Check medicines with healthcare provider. This medicine may not mix
well with other medicines.
- Anticholinergic medicines may prevent this medicine from working
properly. Check with healthcare provider to make sure that you are not taking
any anticholinergic medicines.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make
sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling
about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of
face, lips, tongue, throat; or any other symptoms involved.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan on getting
pregnant.
- Do not use if you are
breast-feeding.
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| What are the common side effects
of this
medicine? |
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- Nausea, vomiting, or loss of appetite. Small frequent meals, frequent
mouth care, sucking hard candy, or chewing gum may help.
- Diarrhea.
- Dizziness. Avoid driving, doing other tasks or activities that require
you to be alert until you see how this medicine affects you.
- Headache. Mild pain medicine may
help.
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| What should I monitor? |
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- Change in condition being treated. Is it better, worse, or about the
same?
- Follow up with healthcare
provider.
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| Reasons to call healthcare
provider
immediately |
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- Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing;
tightness in the chest; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits;
swelling of face, lips, tongue, throat.
- Any signs or symptoms of depression.
- Passing out, fainting, severe dizziness, or lightheadedness.
- Severe nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
- Shortness of breath.
- Any rash.
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| How should I store this
medicine? |
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- Store in tight container at room
temperature.
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| General statements |
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- Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's
medicine.
- Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
- Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, herbal/supplements,
vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider
(doctor, nurse, pharmacist, physician assistant).
- Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine,
including over-the-counter or natural products (herbs,
vitamins).
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