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| Pronunciation |
|
 (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 |
|
|
- 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? |
|
|
- This medicine is used to treat Alzheimer's disease. It may help
improve memory.
|
|
|
| How does it work? |
|
|
- Galantamine increases a chemical in the brain called acetylcholine.
Acetylcholine may aid in memory
function.
|
|
|
| How is it best taken? |
|
|
- 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.
|
|
|
| What do I do if I miss a
dose? |
|
|
- 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? |
|
|
- 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.
|
|
|
| What are the common side effects
of this
medicine? |
|
|
- 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.
|
|
|
| What should I monitor? |
|
|
- Change in condition being treated. Is it better, worse, or about the
same?
- Follow up with healthcare
provider.
|
|
|
| Reasons to call healthcare
provider
immediately |
|
|
- 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.
|
|
|
| How should I store this
medicine? |
|
|
- Store in tight container at room
temperature.
|
|
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| General statements |
|
|
- 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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Copyright © 1978-2001 Lexi-Comp Inc. All Rights Reserved
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The publisher does not accept any responsibility for the accuracy of the information or the consequences arising from the application, use, or misuse of any of the information contained herein, including any injury and/or damage to any person or property as a matter of product liability, negligence, or otherwise. No warranty, expressed or implied, is made in regard to the contents of this material. No claims or endorsements are made for any drugs or compounds currently marketed or in investigative use. This material is not intended as a guide to self-medication. The reader is advised to discuss the information provided here with a doctor, pharmacist, nurse, or other authorized healthcare practitioner and to check product information (including package inserts) regarding dosage, precautions, warnings, interactions, and contraindications before administering any drug, herb, or supplement discussed herein.
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