Benzgalantamine

Benzgalantamine is a prescription medication indicated for the treatment of mild-to-moderate dementia of the Alzheimer's type.

• Benzgalantamine is available under the following different brand names: Zunveyl.

Common side effects of Benzgalantamine include:

• nausea
• vomiting 
• diarrhea
• dizziness 
• headache
• decreased appetite

Serious side effects of Benzgalantamine include:

• serious skin reactions (stevens-johnson syndrome and acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis)
• heart conditions: first-degree AV block, palpitations, sinus bradycardia, supraventricular extrasystoles
• seizures

Rare side effects of Benzgalantamine include:

• none 

Seek medical care or call 911 at once if you have the following serious side effects:

• Severe headache, confusion, slurred speech, arm or leg weakness, trouble walking, coordination loss, unsteady, very stiff muscles, high fever, profuse sweating, or tremors.
• Serious eye symptoms such as sudden vision loss, blurred vision, tunnel vision, eye pain or swelling, or seeing halos around lights.
• Serious heart symptoms include fast, irregular, or pounding heartbeats; fluttering in the chest; shortness of breath; sudden dizziness, lightheadedness, or passing out.

This is not a complete list of side effects and other serious side effects or health problems that may occur because of the use of this drug. Call your doctor for medical advice about serious side effects or adverse reactions. You may report side effects or health problems to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Adult dosage

Tablet, delayed release

• 5 mg
• 10 mg
• 15 mg

Alzheimer disease

Adult dosage

• 5 mg orally two times a day for 4 weeks, THEN
• Increase to 10 mg orally two times a day (based on clinical response and dose tolerability)
• May increase to a maximum dosage of 15 mg orally two times a day after at least 4 weeks at 10 mg orally two times a day
• Restart at lowest dosage and re-titrate to current dose if therapy is interrupted for more than 3 days

Dosage Considerations – Should be Given as Follows: 

• See “Dosages”

If your medical doctor is using this medicine to treat your pain, your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor, health care provider, or pharmacist first.

• Benzgalantamine has no noted severe interactions with any other drugs
• Benzgalantamine has no noted serious interactions with any other drugs
• Benzgalantamine has no noted moderate interactions with any other drugs
• Benzgalantamine has no noted minor interactions with any other drugs

This information does not contain all possible interactions or adverse effects. Visit the RxList Drug Interaction Checker for any drug interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist about all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you and share this information with your doctor and pharmacist. Check with your healthcare professional or doctor for additional medical advice, health questions, or concerns.

Contraindications

• Hypersensitivity (eg, skin reactions) to Benzgalantamine, galantamine, or any inactive ingredient in the product

Effects of drug abuse

• None

Short-Term Effects

• See “What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Benzgalantamine?”

Long-Term Effects

• See “What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Benzgalantamine?”

Cautions

• Skin reactions
  • Serious skin reactions (eg, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis) reported with galantamine
  • Discontinue at first appearance of drug-related skin rash
  • Do not resume for serious skin reactions; consider alternative therapy
• Cardiac conduction abnormalities
  • Bradycardia, AV block, and syncope reported with galantamine
  • Consider the risk of potential adverse effects on cardiac conduction
• Gastrointestinal (GI) conditions
  • GI changes (eg, hypersecretion, hypermotility) occur with cholinesterase inhibitors
  • Evaluate for symptoms of active or occult GI bleeding, especially in patients with ulcers
  • History of ulcer disease or concurrent NSAID use may increase the risk of developing ulcers
  • May cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia, and weight loss
  • Monitor patient weight during therapy
• Genitourinary adverse events
  • Bladder outflow obstruction may occur with cholinesterase inhibitors
  • Neurological adverse events
  • Generalized convulsions may occur
• Seizure activity may also be a manifestation of Alzheimer's disease
  • Monitor for seizures
• Pulmonary conditions
  • Pulmonary changes (eg, increased bronchoconstriction, mucus secretion) occur with cholinesterase inhibitors
  • Use caution in patients with a history of severe asthma or obstructive pulmonary disease
  • Monitor for symptoms of respiratory adverse reactions
• Drug interaction overview
  • Coadministration with anticholinergics
    • Caution, monitor
    • Reduced anticholinergic drug activity
  • Coadministration with cholinomimetics and other cholinesterase inhibitors
    • Caution, monitor
  • Synergistic effects expected
  • Increased neuromuscular blocking effects of succinylcholine-type and similar neuromuscular blocking agents during anesthesia

Pregnancy and Lactation

• No adequate data are available regarding the developmental risk associated with use in pregnant women
• Animal studies showed an increased incidence of morphological abnormalities and decreased growth in offspring when galantamine was administered during pregnancy at doses like or greater than those used clinically
• Lactation
  • Data are unavailable on the presence in human milk, effects on breastfed infants or effects on milk production
  • Consider developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding and potential adverse effects on the breastfed infant from therapy or underlying maternal condition along with the patient’s clinical need for drug