Modified Release Capsules
contains the active ingredient galantamine (as hydrobromide)
Consumer Medicine Information
What is in this leaflet
This leaflet answers some common questions about GALANTYL extended release capsules.
It does not contain all the available information. It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.
All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you taking GALANTYL against the benefits this medicine is expected to have for you.
If you have any concerns about taking GALANTYL, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Keep this leaflet with your medicine.
You may need to read it again.
What GALANTYL is used for
GALANTYL 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 behaviour. As the disease progresses, patients find it more and more difficult to carry out their normal daily activities.
The symptoms of Alzheimer's disease are thought to be due to a lack of acetylcholine, a substance which transmits messages between brain cells. GALANTYL increases the amount of this substance to help improve or stabilise the symptoms and therefore slow the progress of Alzheimer's disease.
Your doctor may have prescribed GALANTYL for another reason.
Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why this medicine has been prescribed for you.
Your doctor may have prescribed it for another reason.
It is available only with a doctor's prescription.
Before you take GALANTYL
When you must not take it
Do not take GALANTYL if you have:
an allergy to any medicine containing galantamine
an allergy to any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet
severe liver and/or kidney disease.
Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction may include
shortness of breath
wheezing or difficulty breathing
swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body
rash, itching or hives on the skin
Do not take this medicine after the expiry date printed on the pack or if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering.
If it has expired or is damaged, return it to your pharmacist for disposal.
Before you start to take it
Tell your doctor if you have allergies to any other medicines, foods, preservatives or dyes.
You must tell your doctor if you are:
pregnant, or planning to become pregnant
breastfeeding, or planning to breastfeed
planning to undergo surgery which will require anaesthesia.
Tell 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, fits
breathing disorders, such as asthma, pneumonia
recent gut or bladder surgery
difficulties in passing urine
attacks of sudden abdominal pain.
If you have not told your doctor or pharmacist about any of the above, tell him/her before you start taking GALANTYL.
Your doctor will advise you whether or not to take GALANTYL or if you need to adjust the dose or alter your treatment. Since there may be other related conditions that GALANTYL is not intended to treat, you should verify with your doctor that you are taking GALANTYL for the treatment of mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease.
Initial results from clinical trials in patients with mild cognitive impairment of various causes have shown a slightly higher mortality rate (higher death rate) in those taking GALANTYL than those taking placebo (a pill without an active ingredient which is commonly used in clinical trials as a reference for comparison). 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 GALANTYL.
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including medicines you can buy without a prescription from a pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.
In particular, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any of the following:
anticholinergic medicines (used to prevent travel sickness, relieve stomach cramps, spasms or diarrhoea)
cholinergic medicines (e.g. bethanecol and certain medicines used during surgery)
medicines used to treat Parkinson's disease
medicines for certain heart problems (such as digoxin, quinidine) or to help lower blood pressure (such as a class of medicine called 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 (such as paroxetine, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine).
These medicines may be affected by GALANTYL or may affect how well GALANTYL works. You may need different amounts of your medicines, or you may need to take different medicines.
Your doctor and pharmacist have more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while taking this medicine.
How to take GALANTYL
Follow all directions given to you by your doctor and pharmacist carefully.
They may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.
If you do not understand the instructions on the box, ask your doctor or pharmacist for help.
How much to take
Adults
The dose of GALANTYL 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 the dose that is best for you.
If treatment is discontinued for more than several days, tell your doctor. Your doctor will need to re-start your treatment at the lowest dose. This will minimise the chance of experiencing side effects.
Children
GALANTYL is not recommended for children.
If you do not understand the instructions provided with this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist for help.
How to take it
Take your medicine at about the same time each day.
Taking it at the same time each day will have the best effect. It will also help you remember when to take it.
GALANTYL modified release capsules should be taken once a day, preferably with food. Be sure to drink plenty of liquids during your treatment with GALANTYL to keep yourself hydrated.
How long to take it
Continue taking your medicine for as long as your doctor tells you to.
This medicine helps to control your condition, but does not cure it. It is important to keep taking your medicine even if you feel well.
If you forget to take it
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 that you missed.
This may increase the chance of you getting an unwanted side effect.
If you have missed more than one dose, or are not sure what to do, check with your doctor or pharmacist.
If you have trouble remembering when to take your medicine, ask your pharmacist for some hints.
If you have taken too much (overdose)
Immediately telephone your doctor or the Poisons Information Centre for advice, or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital, if you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much GALANTYL. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
You may need urgent medical attention.
Keep these telephone numbers handy.
If you take too much GALANTYL, you may experience vomiting or a feeling that you want to vomit, nausea, stomach cramps, excessive production of saliva, tears or sweat, dry mouth, loss of control of your 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.
While you are taking GALANTYL
Things you must do
If you are about to be started on any new medicine, remind your doctor and pharmacist that you are taking GALANTYL.
Tell any other doctors, dentists and pharmacists who treat you that you are taking this medicine.
If you are going to have surgery, tell the surgeon or anaesthetist that you are taking this medicine.
If you become pregnant while taking this medicine, tell your doctor immediately.
Things you must not do
Do not take GALANTYL to treat any other complaints unless your doctor tells you to.
Do not give your medicine to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as you.
Do not stop taking your medicine or change the dosage without checking with your doctor.
Things to be careful of
Effects on driving and operating machinery
Alzheimer's disease may reduce your ability to drive or operate machines.
GALANTYL may cause dizziness or drowsiness in some people, especially during initial treatment.
Discuss with your doctor whether it is safe for you to drive or operate machinery.
Side Effects
Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking GALANTYL.
All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical treatment if you get some side effects.
Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects.
You may not experience any of them.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.
Tell your doctor if you experience any of the following and they worry you:
nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach pain or discomfort, indigestion, difficulty swallowing
low potassium levels in the blood - weakness, muscle cramps, numbness and tingling that begins in the lower extremities.
leg cramps, tingling in the hands or feet
ringing in the ears
dehydration (sometimes severe) - thirst , lack of fluids
hallucinations (seeing, feeling or hearing things that are not there)
mood changes such as agitation or aggressive feelings
feeling depressed or having thoughts of harming yourself
low blood pressure - dizziness, light-headedness
slow, fast or irregular heart beat
increased sweating
fever
skin rashes
trembling or shakiness
loss of appetite, weight loss
drowsiness, tiredness, weakness, feeling unwell, confusion, trouble sleeping, headache
falling (sometimes resulting in injury)
runny or blocked nose
urinary tract infection.
high blood pressure
elevated liver enzymes
yellowing of the skin and eyes
light coloured bowel motions
dark coloured urine.
Some of these side effects occur mainly during the early stages of treatment, or when the dose of GALANTYL is increased. They usually disappear gradually over time. For example, nausea and vomiting tend to pass after a few days.
Some of these effects may be due to the Alzheimer's disease but always inform your doctor about any unwanted effect that has occurred while taking GALANTYL.
Tell your doctor immediately, or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital if you notice any of the following:
signs of allergy such as rash or hives on the skin; swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body; wheezing or difficulty breathing.
vomiting blood or material that looks like coffee grounds
bleeding from the back passage, black sticky bowel motions (stools) or bloody diarrhoea
fainting, especially if you have a slow or irregular heart beat
widespread severe rash with peeling skin which may be accompanied by fever, flu-like symptoms, blisters in the mouth, eyes, and/or genitals (Stevens-Johnson Syndrome)
fits (seizures)
pain or tightness in the chest
symptoms of stroke which can include collapsing, numbness or weakness of arms or legs, headache, dizziness and confusion, visual disturbance, difficulty swallowing, slurred speech and loss of speech
These may be serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention. These are rare side effects.
Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some people. Tell your doctor if you notice any other effects.
After taking GALANTYL
Storage
Keep your capsules in the pack until it is time to take them.
If you take the capsules out of the pack they may not keep well.
Keep your capsules in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 25°C.
Do not store GALANTYL or any other medicine in the bathroom or near a sink. Do not leave it on a window sill or in the car.
Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.
Keep your medicines where children cannot reach them.
A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres (1.5 m) above the ground is a good place to store medicines.
Disposal
If your doctor tells you to stop taking GALANTYL or your medicine has passed its expiry date, ask your pharmacist what to do with any medicine which may be left over.
Product description
What it looks like
There are 3 different types of GALANTYL extended release capsules. Each capsule contains a different amount of the active ingredient.
GALANTYL 8 mg extended release capsule are size 2, hard gelatin capsule with a white body and pink cap printed in black ink "MYLAN" over "GT 8" on both the body and the cap.
GALANTYL 16 mg extended release capsule are size 2, hard gelatin capsule with a white body and pale pink cap printed in black ink "MYLAN" over "GT 16" on both the body and the cap.
GALANTYL 24 mg extended release capsules are size 1, hard gelatin capsule with a white body and pink cap printed in black ink "MYLAN" over "GT 24" on both the body and the cap.
All strengths are available in blister packs of 28 extended release capsules.
