Reminyl (Galantamine (As Hydrobromide))
Complete patient guide for uses, dosage, side effects, and safety information
Prescription RequiredQuick Facts
What Is Reminyl Used For?
Reminyl contains galantamine and is specifically designed to treat mild to moderately severe dementia of the Alzheimer’s type.
Primary Uses
Reminyl is used to treat mild to moderately severe dementia of the Alzheimer’s type. The symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease include confusion, memory loss, or other changes in behavior. As the disease progresses, patients find it more difficult to carry out their normal activities.
How It Works
The symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease are thought to be due to a lack of acetylcholine, a substance which transmits messages between brain cells. Reminyl increases the amount of acetylcholine to help improve or stabilize the symptoms and therefore slow the progress of Alzheimer’s disease.
How to Take Reminyl
Reminyl should be taken at least once daily, preferably with food. Be sure to drink plenty of liquids during your treatment with Reminyl to keep yourself hydrated.
Dosage Instructions
The dose of Reminyl is gradually increased to the most suitable dose. The necessary dosage steps should be determined by your doctor to suit your needs. The following scheme is an example of how your doctor may increase the dose: Start with 8 mg a day. After four weeks of treatment raise the dose to 16 mg a day. After at least another four weeks of treatment, raise the dose to 24 mg a day. For long-term treatment, up to 24 mg a day is usually suitable, but your doctor will determine if that dose is best for you. The capsule must be swallowed whole. The contents should not be crushed or sprinkled in food. Reminyl should be taken at the same time each day in the morning.
What If You Miss a Dose?
If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take your next dose when you are meant to. Otherwise, take it as soon as you remember, and then go back to taking it as you would normally. Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose you missed. If you have missed more than one dose, or are not sure what to do, check with your doctor or pharmacist.
Important: Never take a double dose to make up for the dose you missed
Available Tablet Strengths
Side Effects
Like all medications, this medicine can cause side effects. Most are mild and temporary, but some require medical attention.
Common Side Effects
These side effects occur relatively frequently and usually don’t require emergency care:
- nausea
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- stomach pain
- indigestion
- decreased appetite
- dizziness
- headache
- tremors
- fainting
- fatigue
- drowsiness
- depression
- fast heartbeat
- muscle spasms
- loss of strength
- feeling ill
- weight loss
- increased sweating
- difficulty swallowing
- light colored bowel motions
- ringing in the ears
- blurred vision
- distorted sense of taste
- tingling in the hands or feet
- hallucinations
- trembling or shaking
- falling
- low blood pressure
- slow, fast, or irregular heart beat
- high blood pressure
- dehydration
- dark colored urine
- yellowing of the skin and eyes
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:
- signs of allergy (rash or hives on the skin, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body, and wheezing or difficulty breathing)
- vomiting blood or material that looks like ground coffee
- bloody diarrhea or black sticky bowel motions
- seizures
- chest tightness or pain
- fainting, especially if you have a slow or irregular heartbeat
- widespread severe rash with peeling skin or white pus-filled spots which may be accompanied by fever, flu-like symptoms, blisters in the mouth, eyes, and/or genitals
Important Warnings
There are important safety considerations before taking Reminyl. Always check the ingredients to make sure you can use this medicine.
Who Should Not Take Reminyl
Do not use Reminyl if you are allergic to galantamine (as hydrobromide), or any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet, you have severe liver and/or kidney disease, or the package is torn or shows signs of tampering.
Medical Conditions to Discuss
Check with your doctor if you have or have had any of the following medical conditions: liver and/or kidney disease, heart problems, stomach ulcers, brain disorders such as Parkinson’s disease or seizures, problems controlling movements of the body or limbs (extrapyramidal disorders), breathing disorders such as asthma or pneumonia, recent gut or bladder surgery, difficulties passing urine, attacks of sudden abdominal pain, low potassium levels in the blood which may be causing weakness, muscle cramps, numbness and tingling that begins in the lower extremities.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Check with your doctor if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant. Talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding or intend to breastfeed. Tell your doctor if you become pregnant while taking Reminyl.
Clinical Trial Results: Initial results from clinical trials in patients with mild cognitive impairments of various causes have shown a slightly higher death rate in those taking Reminyl than those taking placebo. The reason for this difference is currently not known and may just be due to chance. There is no evidence of increased risk of death in those with mild to moderately severe Alzheimer’s disease taking Reminyl.
Drug Interactions
Some medicines may interfere with Reminyl and affect how it works. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including any medicines, vitamins or supplements that you buy without a prescription.
- Anticholinergic medicines (used to prevent travel sickness, relieve stomach cramps, spasms, or diarrhea)
- Cholinergic medicines (e.g., bethanechol and certain medicines used during surgery)
- Medicines used to treat Parkinson’s disease
- Medicines for certain heart problems (such as digoxin or quinidine) or to help lower blood pressure (such as beta blockers)
- Medicines used for breathing problems
- Certain medicines used to treat fungal infections (such as ketoconazole) or bacterial infections (such as erythromycin)
- Certain medicines used to relieve pain, swelling and other symptoms of inflammation including arthritis
- Certain medicines used to treat depression, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder or anxiety (such as paroxetine, fluoxetine, or fluvoxamine)
Alcohol & Driving
Reminyl may affect your ability to drive or operate machinery, and Alzheimer’s disease itself may also impact these abilities.
Alcohol
No specific alcohol warnings were mentioned in the source material. Consult your doctor about alcohol consumption while taking Reminyl.
Driving and Operating Machinery
Discuss with your doctor whether it is safe for you to drive or operate machinery while taking Reminyl. Reminyl may cause dizziness or drowsiness in some people, especially during initial treatment. Alzheimer’s disease may reduce your ability to drive or operate machines.
Storage
Keep Reminyl in the pack until it is time to take them. Keep Reminyl in a cool dry place where the temperature is below 30°C. Store it in a cool dry place away from moisture, heat or sunlight. Do not store it in the bathroom or near a sink, or in the car or on window sills. Keep it where young children cannot reach it. A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres (1.5 m) above the ground is a good place to store medicines.
Overdose Information
If you think that you have used too much Reminyl, you may need urgent medical attention. You should immediately phone the Poisons Information Centre (by calling 13 11 26 in Australia OR 0800 764 766 or 0800 POISON in New Zealand), or contact your doctor, or go to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital. You should do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. Symptoms of taking too much Reminyl may include nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, excessive production of saliva, tears or sweat, dry mouth, loss of control of bladder or bowels, a slow or fast heart beat, low blood pressure, dizziness, light-headedness, muscle weakness or twitching, fits, breathing difficulties, chest pain, hallucinations, or you may collapse.
Frequently Asked Questions
The dose of Reminyl is gradually increased over time. Your doctor will typically start with 8mg daily, then increase to 16mg after four weeks, and potentially to 24mg after another four weeks. The medication works by increasing acetylcholine levels to help improve or stabilize symptoms and slow the progress of Alzheimer’s disease.
Yes, Reminyl should be taken at least once daily, preferably with food. Be sure to drink plenty of liquids during your treatment to keep yourself hydrated.
If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take your next dose when you are meant to. Otherwise, take it as soon as you remember, then go back to taking it as you would normally. Never take a double dose to make up for the dose you missed.
No, the capsule must be swallowed whole. The contents should not be crushed or sprinkled in food.
Common side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, indigestion, decreased appetite, dizziness, headache, tremors, fainting, fatigue, drowsiness, depression, fast heartbeat, muscle spasms, loss of strength, feeling ill, and weight loss. Many of these occur mainly during early treatment or when the dose is increased and usually disappear gradually over time.
Call your doctor straight away if you experience signs of allergy (rash, hives, swelling, difficulty breathing), vomiting blood, bloody diarrhea, seizures, chest pain or tightness, fainting with slow or irregular heartbeat, or severe skin reactions with peeling, fever, or blisters.
Reminyl is specifically used to treat Alzheimer’s disease, which commonly affects elderly patients. However, clinical trials in patients with mild cognitive impairments showed a slightly higher death rate in those taking Reminyl compared to placebo, though the reason is unknown and may be due to chance. There is no evidence of increased risk of death in those with mild to moderately severe Alzheimer’s disease taking Reminyl.
Important Disclaimer
This information is intended for general educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or emergency services immediately.