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Galanthamine

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Summary

  • ▲ Galanthamine is a selective acetylcholinesterase inhibitor which has shown potential for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.

  • ▲ Galanthamine is selective for acetylcholinesterase versus butyrylcholinesterase; however, the drug produces greater enzyme inhibition in human erythrocytes than in human brain tissue.

  • ▲ Galanthamine attenuates drug- and lesion-induced cognitive deficits in animal models of learning and memory.

  • ▲ Preliminary results in patients with Alzheimer’s disease have reported galanthamine to be associated with a reduction in cognitive deterioration on some neuropsychiatric rating scales.

  • ▲ Nausea and vomiting are the most commonly reported adverse effects; liver toxicity has not been reported to date.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Adis International Limited, 41 Centonan Drive, Private Bag 65901, Mairangi Bay, Auckland 10, New Zealand

    Bret Fulton & Paul Benfield

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  1. Bret Fulton
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  2. Paul Benfield
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Fulton, B., Benfield, P. Galanthamine. Drugs & Aging 9, 60–65 (1996). https://doi.org/10.2165/00002512-199609010-00006

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.2165/00002512-199609010-00006

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