Galantamine
Also called Reminyl, Razadyne
Galantamine is a prescription acetylcholinesterase inhibitor first isolated from snowdrop bulbs. Trials have examined it mainly for mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease.
- Evidence
- AStrong evidence
- Studied dose
- 4-12mg
- Safety score
- Verified references
- 1 study
How it is thought to work
Galantamine reversibly inhibits acetylcholinesterase and also acts as an allosteric potentiator of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. It crosses the blood-brain barrier.
Availability
What the studies found
| Claimed benefit | Grade | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's | A | Graded A, but no verified study is cited for this claim yet.Multiple RCTs. |
| Lucid dreaming (anecdotal) | C | Popular for REM-stage dream induction. |
Each benefit is graded on its own; a substance can have strong evidence for one effect and little for another. What the grades mean.
Dose and timing
Doses used in the research on file, taken as 1-2 doses. Not a recommendation.
Logarithmic time scale. Individual metabolism varies.
Safety and interactions
| Recorded side effect | How often | Severity |
|---|---|---|
| Nausea / vomiting | common | moderate |
| Bradycardia | uncommon | moderate |
History
Soviet pharmacologist Mashkovsky isolated galantamine from the bulbs of the Caucasian snowdrop (Galanthus woronowii) in the 1950s. It was used in Eastern Europe for myasthenia gravis and polio before being studied for Alzheimer's disease. Janssen launched it as Reminyl (later Razadyne) in the early 2000s.
References
- Galantamine for lucid dreaming and REM sleep (LaBerge). 2018. PubMed 30089135
Reader reviews
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Sign in to reviewGalantamine: quick answers
- How strong is the evidence for Galantamine?
- The overall grade on file is A (strong). 2 claimed benefits are graded separately in the table above. 1 of the benefit grades of A have no verified study cited yet. The entry cites 1 study.
- What dose of Galantamine has been studied?
- The range on file is 4-12 mg (1-2 doses). It describes doses used in research, not a recommendation.
- How long does Galantamine take to work and how long does it last?
- Listed onset: about 60 minutes. Listed half-life: about 7 hours. Individual metabolism varies.
- What are the side effects of Galantamine?
- Recorded side effects: Nausea / vomiting (common), Bradycardia (uncommon). Safety score 3/5.
Compared with other substances
Show 1Hide
| Comparison | Grade | Class |
|---|---|---|
| Galantamine vs Alpha-GPC | A | Cholinergic |
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