Additional Information
* The online pharmacies to which you may be referred from this website will only dispense a controlled substance to a person who has a valid prescription issued for a legitimate medical purpose based upon a medical relationship with the prescribing practitioner. This includes at least one prior in-person medical evaluation or medical evaluation via telemedicine in accordance with applicable requirements of section 309 of the Ryan Haight Online Pharmacy Act.
Why is this medication prescribed
Galantamine is used for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Galantamine is in a class of medications called acetylcholinesterase inhibitors. It works by increasing the amount of a certain natural substance in the brain.
Proper Use of This Medicine
Dosing
Take this medicine only as directed by your doctor.Do not take more or less of it, and do not take it more or less often than your doctor ordered. Taking too much may increase the chance of side effects, while taking too little may not improve your condition.
The dose of galantamine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of galantamine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.
The number of tablets that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are taking galantamine.
- For oral dosage form (tablets):
- For treatment of Alzheimer's disease:
- Adults To start, take 4 mg (milligrams) two times a day. Your doctor may increase your dose gradually if you are doing well on this medicine.
Missed dose
If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if you do not remember within a few hours, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses. Do not take your morning and evening doses close together.
Storage
To store this medicine:
- Keep out of the reach of children.
- Do not store in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down.
- Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Ask your health care professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use. Be sure that any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.
Other uses for this medicine
This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
What other information should I know
Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory.
Do not let anyone else take your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription.
Before Using This Medicine
In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For galantamine the following should be considered:
Allergies Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to galantamine. Also tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.
Pregnancy Galantamine has not been studied in pregnant women. Galantamine has been shown to cause birth defects or other problems in animal studies.
Breast-feeding It is not known whether galantamine passes into breast milk. Mothers who are taking this medicine and who wish to breast-feed should discuss this with their doctor. Use in breast-feeding mothers is not indicated.
Children Studies on this medicine have been done only in adult patients, and there is no specific information comparing use of galantamine in children with use in other age groups. Use in children is not recommended.
Older adults Galantamine levels are higher in older adults than in healthy young subjects.
Other medicines Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your health care professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.
Other medical problems The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of galantamine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
- Asthma (or history of) or
- Heart problems, including slow heartbeat or heart block (slow and irregular heartbeat), or
- Stomach ulcer (or history of) or
- Urinary tract blockage or difficult urination Galantamine may make these conditions worse
- Epilepsy or history of seizures Galantamine may cause seizures
In case of emergency overdose
In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911.
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