Precautions
Before taking galantamine, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or to daffodil plants; or if you have any other allergies. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.
This medication should not be used if you have certain medical conditions. Before using this medicine, consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have: severe liver or kidney disease.
Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of:
- liver problems
- kidney problems
- stomach/intestinal problems (e.g., ulcers, bleeding)
- heart problems (e.g., sick sinus syndrome, bradycardia, AV block, arrhythmias)
- breathing/lung problems (e.g., severe asthma, COPD-chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
- seizures
- problems urinating (e.g., due to enlarged prostate)
This drug may make you dizzy or drowsy. Limit alcoholic beverages.
Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist that you are taking this medication.
This medication should be used only when clearly needed during pregnancy. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor.
It is unknown if this drug passes into breast milk. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.
Interactions
Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription/herbal products you may use, especially of:
- anticholinergic drugs (e.g., atropine, diphenhydramine, scopolamine, tolterodine)
- aspirin (high doses used for arthritis)
- cholinergic drugs (e.g., bethanechol)
- cholinesterase inhibitors (e.g., neostigmine)
- long-term use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs such as ibuprofen, naproxen)
- drugs affecting liver enzymes that remove galantamine from your body (such as azole antifungals including ketoconazole, amitriptyline, SSRI antidepressants including paroxetine, quinidine)
Also report the use of heart drugs (those that decrease heart rate or block AV impulse conduction) such as: beta-blockers (e.g., metoprolol, propranolol), calcium channel blockers (e.g., diltiazem, verapamil), digoxin.
Check all prescription and nonprescription medicine labels carefully since many medications contain pain relievers/fever reducers (NSAIDs such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen) which, if taken together with galantamine, may increase your risk for stomach/intestinal bleeding. Low-dose aspirin, as prescribed by your doctor for specific medical reasons such as heart attack or stroke prevention (usually at dosages of 81-325 milligrams per day), should be continued. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details.
This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist.