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Galamer OD 8 Tablet

Prescription Required
SALT COMPOSITION
Storage
Store below 30°C

Product introduction

Galamer OD 8 Tablet is used to treat mild to moderate dementia in Alzheimer’s disease, a progressive illness that gradually affects memory and thinking. It does not cure this illness but may help improve memory, awareness, and other symptoms.

Your doctor will explain how to take Galamer OD 8 Tablet. Follow the instructions carefully to get the most benefit. The dose may change from time to time to suit your individual needs. You may take it with food, preferably at night before going to bed. It can take up to a few weeks for symptoms to improve so keep taking your medicine regularly. You should not stop taking this medicine without consulting your doctor.

The most common side effects of this medicine are nausea and vomiting. It may also cause diarrhea, decreased appetite, hallucination, depression, fainting, dizziness, headache, sleepiness, fatigue, indigestion, and abdominal pain. Some people may experience dizziness, increase in blood pressure, or slow heart rate. You may have side effects more often when you start your treatment or when your dose is increased. Usually, the side effects will slowly go away as your body gets used to the Galamer OD 8 Tablet. If they are severe or will not go away, you should contact your doctor.

Before using Galamer OD 8 Tablet, you should tell your doctor if you have ever had heart problems, stomach ulcers, epilepsy, or asthma. It may also affect, or be affected by, some other drugs you are using so let your doctor know what these are to be safe. During pregnancy, this medicine should only be taken if it is advised.

Uses of Galamer Tablet ER

Benefits of Galamer Tablet ER

In Alzheimer's disease

In people with Alzheimer’s disease, certain nerve cells die in the brain. This results in lower levels of a chemical called acetylcholine which helps nerve cells to communicate with each other. This leads to symptoms of dementia such as memory loss, confusion, disorientation, problems with speech and language, and personality changes. Galamer OD 8 Tablet increases the amount of acetylcholine and helps brain cells to communicate. It can, therefore, improve some of the symptoms such as memory, awareness, and the ability to carry out daily functions for a time. However, it is not a cure. You should use the medicine exactly as prescribed. It can take several weeks for your symptoms to improve; so keep using the medicine even if you do not think it is working.

Side effects of Galamer Tablet ER

Most side effects do not require any medical attention and disappear as your body adjusts to the medicine. Consult your doctor if they persist or if you’re worried about them

Common side effects of Galamer

  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Headache
  • Dizziness
  • Decreased appetite
  • Depression
  • Indigestion
  • Lethargy
  • Fainting
  • Abdominal pain
  • Hallucination
  • Slow heart rate
  • High blood pressure
  • Sleepiness

How to use Galamer Tablet ER

Take this medicine in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor. Swallow it as a whole. Do not chew, crush or break it. Galamer OD 8 Tablet is to be taken with food.

How Galamer Tablet ER works

Memory loss in Alzheimer’s disease occurs due to disturbances of signal transmission in the brain. Galamer OD 8 Tablet is a cholinesterase inhibitor. It works by increasing the levels of a chemical messenger (acetylcholine) involved in transmmission of nerve signals. This improves memory and thinking.

Safety advice

Alcohol
UNSAFE
It is unsafe to consume alcohol with Galamer OD 8 Tablet.
Pregnancy
SAFE IF PRESCRIBED
Galamer OD 8 Tablet is generally considered safe to use during pregnancy. Animal studies have shown low or no adverse effects to the developing baby; however, there are limited human studies.
Breast feeding
CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR
Galamer OD 8 Tablet is probably unsafe to use during breastfeeding. Limited human data suggests that the drug may pass into the breastmilk and harm the baby.
Driving
UNSAFE
Galamer OD 8 Tablet may decrease alertness, affect your vision or make you feel sleepy and dizzy. Do not drive if these symptoms occur.
Kidney
CAUTION
Galamer OD 8 Tablet should be used with caution in patients with severe kidney disease. Dose adjustment of Galamer OD 8 Tablet may be needed. Please consult your doctor.
However, use of this medicine is not recommended in patients with end-stage kidney disease.
Liver
CAUTION
Galamer OD 8 Tablet should be used with caution in patients with liver disease. Dose adjustment of Galamer OD 8 Tablet may be needed. Please consult your doctor.
Use of Galamer OD 8 Tablet is not recommended in patients with severe liver disease.

What if you forget to take Galamer Tablet ER?

If you miss a dose of Galamer OD 8 Tablet, skip it and continue with your normal schedule. Do not double the dose.\n

All substitutes

For informational purposes only. Consult a doctor before taking any medicines.
No substitutes found for this medicine

Quick tips

  • You have been prescribed Galamer OD 8 Tablet to slow down the progression of Alzheimer's disease.
  • It does not cure Alzheimer's disease but may help improve brain function and ability to do daily activities.
  • Take it with or without food, preferably at night before going to bed.
  • It may cause diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. Drink plenty of fluids to keep yourself hydrated while taking Galamer OD 8 Tablet.
  • Monitor your body weight regularly as both Galamer OD 8 Tablet and  Alzheimer's disease can cause weight loss.
  • Do not drive or do anything that requires mental focus until you know how Galamer OD 8 Tablet affects you.
  • It may cause serious skin rashes. Stop taking medication and inform your doctor if you notice a skin rash. 
  • Inform your doctor if you develop muscle tremors, especially if you have Parkinson’s disease.
  • Inform your doctor about taking Galamer OD 8 Tablet, If you are going to have surgery under anesthesia.
  • Be cautious while taking this medicine if you suffer from peptic ulcer as it may cause vomiting, stomach bleeding, stomach pain, or discomfort.
  • Inform your doctor if you experience seizures or convulsions while taking this medicine.

Fact Box

Chemical Class
Carbamate Derivative
Habit Forming
No
Therapeutic Class
NEURO CNS
Action Class
Cholinesterase inhibitors - Alzheimer's disease

Patient concerns

arrow
Why the failure of Alzheimer's therapy now a days???
Dr. Vikas Sharma
Neurology
as the disese mechanisms are still not defined in absolute terms; still PATIENT is needed and is ongoing
Sir, My father ( an advocate) has developed symptoms of Alzheimer recently and sometimes he takes medicines on his own. He gets weak and unable to walk after taking tablets. Is there any test which can tell which medicines that he took? He takes Ayurved, Allopath, Homeopathy all and does not listen to me. Kindly help
Dr. Ila Jain Khandelwal
Pathology
Dear Sir Thank you for consulting with me. Alzheimer's disease is a difficult disease to handle since patient develops dementia or forgetfulness. There are no blood tests which can tell you which medicines he took. Please consult a neurologist/ Psychiatrist
arrow

User feedback


FAQs

Is Galamer OD 8 Tablet an antipsychotic?

No, it is not an antipsychotic. Galamer OD 8 Tablet is a cholinesterase inhibitor used for the treatment of mild to moderate Alzheimer’s dementia.

What are the symptoms of overdose of Galamer OD 8 Tablet?

An overdose of Galamer OD 8 Tablet can lead to muscle weakness, muscle twitching, severe nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, decrease in blood pressure, collapse, and convulsions (sudden irregular movement of body). It may also cause watery eyes, slow heartbeat and excessive production of saliva, urine, stools, and sweat.

Why more fluids are necessary during Galamer OD 8 Tablet therapy?

During Galamer OD 8 Tablet therapy various side effects like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia, weight decrease can be observed. The impact of these adverse events can be reduced if Galamer OD 8 Tablet is taken with food and adequate fluid intake is ensured. Use of antiemetic agents can also be equally helpful.

Does Galamer OD 8 Tablet affect weight of a patient?

Yes, treatment with cholinesterase inhibitors, including Galamer OD 8 Tablet, has been associated with weight loss in patients with Alzheimer's disease. So during Galamer OD 8 Tablet therapy, weight should be monitored for such patients.

Does Galamer OD 8 Tablet have any effect on heart?

Yes, Galamer OD 8 Tablet do affect heart. Galamer OD 8 Tablet decreases heart rate, which can be seen as a common side effect of this medicine. Other uncommon side effects include AV block, palpitations, and superaventricular extrasystoles (a type of cardiac arrythmia).

How Galamer OD 8 Tablet affect blood pressure?

Use of Galamer OD 8 Tablet may result in an increase in blood pressure which is a common side effect of this medicine. On the contrary, uncommon side effect of Galamer OD 8 Tablet is decrease in blood pressure. So, for a hypertensive patient a regular monitoring of blood pressure is required.

Can I continue with Galamer OD 8 Tablet if I have to undergo surgery?

If you are going to have surgery, inform the surgeon or anaesthetist beforehand that you are taking this medicine. The doctor will advise you how to proceed further or may even stop Galamer OD 8 Tablet.

Can I stop Galamer OD 8 Tablet on my own?

No, do not stop taking Galamer OD 8 Tablet without consulting your doctor. Continue to take Galamer OD 8 Tablet even if you feel well. If you do stop taking Galamer OD 8 Tablet for a few days or longer, call your doctor before starting Galamer OD 8 Tablet again. Your doctor will probably advise you to start with the lowest dose of Galamer OD 8 Tablet and gradually increase your dose to the dose you had been taking.

What is dementia?

Dementia is a syndrome in which there is deterioration in memory, thinking, behaviour, and the ability to perform everyday activities. Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia and may contribute to 60–70% of cases. Dementia is one of the major causes of disability and dependency among older people worldwide.

Can I take paroxetine with Galamer OD 8 Tablet?

You should avoid taking Galamer OD 8 Tablet with paroxetine. Medicines like quinidine, paroxetine or fluoxetine, ketoconazole or ritonavir interfere with the working of Galamer OD 8 Tablet. This interaction may increase the levels of Galamer OD 8 Tablet in the body that may result in nausea and vomiting. Under these circumstances, a reduction of the Galamer OD 8 Tablet maintenance dose can be considered, based on tolerability of this medicine.

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Tata 1mg's sole intention is to ensure that its consumers get information that is expert-reviewed, accurate and trustworthy. However, the information contained herein should NOT be used as a substitute for the advice of a qualified physician. The information provided here is for informational purposes only. This may not cover everything about particular health conditions, lab tests, medicines, all possible side effects, drug interactions, warnings, alerts, etc. Please consult your doctor and discuss all your queries related to any disease or medicine. We intend to support, not replace, the doctor-patient relationship.

References

  1. Stahl SM, editor. Galantamine. In: Stahl's Essential Pschopharmacology: Prescriber's Guide. 5th ed. New York, New York: Cambridge University Press; 2014. pp. 281-85.
  2. Briggs GG, Freeman RK, editors. A Reference Guide to Fetal and Neonatal Risk: Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer Health; 2015. pp. 611-12.
  3. Galantamine hydrobromide [EMC SmPC]. Camberley, Surrey: Sandoz Limited; 2010 [revised 26 Apr. 2017]. [Accessed 24 Jan. 2019] (online) Available from:External Link
  4. Galantamine [FDA Label]. Titusville, NJ: Janssen Pharmaceutica Products; 2004. [Accessed 25 Mar. 2019] (online) Available from:External Link
  5. Galantamine hydrobromide [EMC SmPC]. London, England: Shire Pharmaceuticals Limited; 2005 [revised 10 May 2017]. [Accessed 25 Mar. 2019] (online) Available from:External Link

Marketer details

Name: Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd
Address: Plot no 107/108,Namli block , Ranipool, East Sikkim 737135
Country of origin: India

DISCONTINUED
We do not facilitate sale of this product at present

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