Razadyne ER

Introduction

Written by Sarah Lewis, PharmD
Medically reviewed by Bryson Russell PharmD, MHSA, MSc
Updated on November 22, 2023

Galantamine (ga LAN ta meen) is a generic medication prescribed for mild to moderate dementia of Alzheimer’s disease. Galantamine belongs to a group of drugs called cholinesterase inhibitors.

This article doesn’t provide coupons for all forms of galantamine. To find coupons for galantamine extended-release oral capsule, see this article.

Side effects of galantamine

Galantamine may cause mild or serious side effects. More common mild side effects of galantamine and its serious side effects are listed below. This article doesn’t include all possible side effects of the drug. Side effects can vary based on your age, overall health, and any other medications you take.

To learn more about galantamine’s side effects, ask your doctor or pharmacist. You can also refer to the prescribing information for galantamine listed in the “Resources” section.

Mild side effects

More common mild side effects reported with galantamine are listed below.

This article doesn’t include all possible mild side effects of the drug. To learn more about galantamine’s side effects based on the form, refer to the prescribing information for galantamine listed in the “Resources” section.

With many drugs, mild side effects may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. If the side effects are bothersome, tell your doctor or pharmacist. They may be able to suggest ways to manage them.

Mild side effects of galantamine oral tablet and extended-release (ER)* oral capsule include:

• decreased appetite
• diarrhea
• dizziness
• nausea or vomiting
• mild allergic reaction†

* “Extended release (ER)” means the drug is slowly released into your body over a long period of time.
† For details about this side effect, see the “Interactions and warnings for galantamine” section.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects of galantamine are listed below.

This article doesn’t include all possible serious side effects of the drug. To learn more about galantamine’s side effects based on the form, refer to the prescribing information for galantamine listed in the “Resources” section.

With many drugs, serious side effects are possible but not common. If you have serious side effects from this drug, call your doctor right away. If you’re having severe symptoms or a medical emergency, call 911 or a local emergency number.

In general, galantamine’s serious side effects include:

• heart block (a serious problem with the heart’s electrical signals, which can be life threatening)
• seizures
• slow heart rate, which can lead to fainting
• peptic ulcers or gastrointestinal bleeding
• difficulty urinating
• severe allergic reaction*

* For details about this side effect, see the “Interactions and warnings for galantamine” section.

Common questions about galantamine

Below you’ll find answers to a few commonly asked questions about galantamine.

What brand names are available for galantamine?

Currently, there isn’t a brand-name drug available for galantamine. Galantamine is a generic version of the brand-name drug, Razadyne. But this brand-name product is no longer available.

A generic medication is an identical copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. (An active drug is the ingredient that makes a medication work.) Generic drugs are believed to be as effective and safe as brand-name drugs. And generic drugs typically cost less compared to brand-name drugs.

You can learn more about this by talking with your doctor or pharmacist.

How does galantamine work? And how long does it take to start working?

Galantamine’s mechanism of action (how it works) is to stop the breakdown of a substance called acetylcholine (ACh). ACh helps your brain with processes involving memory and thinking. While the cause of Alzheimer’s disease isn’t clear, low levels of ACh in the brain seem to play a role in dementia. By blocking its breakdown, galantamine increases levels of ACh in the brain. This may help ease the symptoms of mild to moderate dementia. But it won’t cure Alzheimer’s disease or stop its progress.

Galantamine starts working as soon as you take it. But it can take up to 4 weeks to see its full effect on symptoms. Doctors usually wait this long before increasing the dose, if necessary.

If you’d like to know more about this, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Uses of galantamine

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves prescription drugs such as galantamine for certain conditions. The approved use for galantamine is described below.

Use for dementia in people with Alzheimer’s disease

Doctors may prescribe galantamine oral tablet and extended-release oral capsule for treating mild to moderate dementia of Alzheimer’s disease. It’s used for this purpose in adults. It’s usually prescribed as a long-term treatment.

With Alzheimer’s disease, people experience a decline in their mental abilities. This is called dementia. It affects their thinking, memory, and behavior. The symptoms are usually mild in the beginning. As the disease progresses, these symptoms will start to interfere with daily living.

Galantamine can help reduce dementia symptoms. But Alzheimer’s disease is progressive, meaning it will get worse with time. Galantamine can’t stop this process, and the drug may become less effective over time.

Interactions and warnings for galantamine

Below, you’ll find information about galantamine’s possible interactions and warnings.

Interactions of galantamine

Certain things may affect how a drug works. These include getting vaccines, consuming alcohol or certain foods, or taking the drug with other medications. This effect is called a drug interaction.

Before you take galantamine, ask your doctor to check for possible interactions. Be sure to tell them about any of the following you take or use:

• prescription or over-the-counter drugs
• vitamins, herbs, or supplements

To learn about drug-condition interactions, see the “Warnings for galantamine” section below.

Warnings for galantamine

Some people should not take galantamine, and others should take it cautiously.

Galantamine could cause harm to people with certain health conditions. This effect is called a drug-condition interaction. Other factors can also affect whether galantamine is a safe option for you.

Ask your doctor about specific warnings for galantamine, and be sure to tell your doctor about your:

• current health, including any allergies to medications
• past health conditions or surgeries

Allergic reaction

Galantamine can cause an allergic reaction in some people. Severe allergic reactions are rare but possible.

If you’ve had an allergic reaction to galantamine or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe galantamine. They can tell you about medications that are safer options for you.

A mild allergic reaction may cause the following symptoms:

• skin rash
• itchiness
• flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)

A severe allergic reaction may cause the following symptoms:

• severe skin rashes that may blister and peel
• swelling under your skin, usually in your hands, feet, eyelids, or lips
• swelling of your mouth, throat, or tongue, which can cause breathing problems

If you have an allergic reaction to galantamine, call your doctor right away. If you have severe symptoms, call 911 or a local emergency number.

Overdose of galantamine

You should not take more galantamine than your doctor prescribes. For some drugs, doing so may lead to harmful effects or overdose.

If you think you’ve taken too much galantamine, call your doctor or pharmacist right away. Or you could call 800-222-1222 to speak with someone at America’s Poison Centers. You can also use its online resource. If you have concerning symptoms, call 911 or a local emergency number immediately. You can also go to the closest emergency room.

Pregnancy or breastfeeding and galantamine

Information about galantamine and pregnancy and breastfeeding is described below.

Galantamine and pregnancy

It’s not known whether galantamine should be taken during pregnancy. If you’re planning a pregnancy or can become pregnant, talk with your doctor before taking this medication.

Galantamine and breastfeeding

It’s not known whether galantamine should be taken while breastfeeding. If you’re breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before taking this medication.

What to ask your doctor

Let your doctor know if you have questions about galantamine or would like more details about it.

Here’s a list of some possible questions you may want to ask your doctor:

• What is the most important information I need to know about galantamine?
• How should I take galantamine?
• Do any of my other medications interact with galantamine?

Resources

• Food and Drug Administration. (2023). Orange Book: Approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence evaluations. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/ob/index.cfm
• Galantamine ER (galantamine extended-release capsules), for oral use. (2022). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/3bea9961-4d8a-4cf3-8b63-49af2b1fbb5b/spl-doc
• Galantamine tablets, for oral use. (2022). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/56f365e5-0a23-4f69-e054-00144ff8d46c/spl-doc

Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.