Canadian pharmacy buying guide: drug characteristics, uses and benefits, side effects and interactions, and links for further information about buying discount drugs online from Canada.

Reminyl Consumer Information

REMINYL

Generic Name: galantamine (gah LAN tah meen)

Brand Names: Reminyl

What is the most important information I should know about galantamine?

• Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous activities. Galantamine may cause dizziness or drowsiness. If you experience dizziness or drowsiness, avoid these activities.

What is galantamine?

• Galantamine is used to treat Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's disease is associated with low levels of a chemical called acetylcholine (ah see til KOH leen) in the brain. The exact way that galantamine works is unknown. However, it is believed that galantamine prevents the breakdown of acetylcholine in the brain.
• Galantamine is used to improve thinking and memory in patients with Alzheimer's disease.
• Galantamine may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

Who should not take galantamine?

• Before taking galantamine, tell your doctor if you:
• have significant nausea, vomiting, lack of appetite, or weight loss;
• have difficulty urinating;
• have heart disease such as a slow or irregular heartbeat;
• have a history of stomach ulcers;
• have seizures or a history of seizures;
• have kidney disease;
• have liver disease;
• have a history of asthma or obstructive pulmonary disease; or
• need to have surgery.
• You may not be able to take galantamine or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.
• Galantamine is in the FDA pregnancy category B. This means that it is unlikely to harm an unborn baby. Do not take galantamine without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant.
• It is also not known whether galantamine passes into breast milk. Do not take galantamine without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I take galantamine?

• Take galantamine exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.
• Galantamine is usually taken twice a day, with the morning and evening meals. Follow your doctor's directions.
• Galantamine should be taken with food.
• Take each dose with a full glass of water.
• If treatment with galantamine is stopped for several days or longer, treatment should be restarted at the lowest dose and slowly increased to the current dose. Contact your doctor before restarting treatment with galantamine
• Store galantamine at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

• Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next regularly scheduled dose, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take a double dose of galantamine unless otherwise directed by your doctor.

What happens if I overdose?

• Seek emergency medical attention.
• Symptoms of a galantamine overdose include severe nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, watering mouth, eye watering, sweating, slow heartbeat, slow breathing, muscle weakness, seizures, and collapse.

What should I avoid while taking galantamine?

• Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous activities. Galantamine may cause dizziness or drowsiness. If you experience dizziness or drowsiness, avoid these activities.

What are the possible side effects of galantamine?

• Stop taking galantamine and seek emergency medical attention if you experience an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives).
• Other, less serious side effects may also occur. Continue to take galantamine and talk to your doctor if you experience
• drowsiness or dizziness;
• nausea, vomiting, or decreased appetite;
• abdominal pain, upset stomach, gas, or diarrhea;
• weight loss;
• headache; or
• tremor.
• Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What other drugs will affect galantamine?

• Before taking galantamine, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:
• paroxetine (Paxil; Paxil CR), fluoxetine (Prozac), or fluvoxamine (Luvox);
• amitriptyline (Elavil, Endep);
• quinidine (Cardioquin, Quinaglute, others);
• cimetidine (Tagamet, Tagamet HB);
• ketoconazole (Nizoral, others); or
• erythromycin (Ery-Tab, E.E.S., E-Mycin, Eryc, others).
• You may not be able to use galantamine, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during your treatment if you are taking any of the medicines listed above.
• Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with galantamine, or affect your condition. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines.

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist has more information about galantamine written for health professionals that you may read.
• Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

Limitations of This Canadian Pharmacy Information

Efforts have been made to ensure that the information provided here is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. This information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. This is an educational resource only intended to supplement but not to replace the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, please check with your doctor, nurse or local pharmacist. This site does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information provided here.

Full public license and copyright information is available separately from Cerner Multum, Inc.

Version: 1.02. Revision Date: 2/14/03.