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Galantamine-associated nightmares and anxiety
Jason M Corbo1, Jamie N Brown, Jason M Moss
1Department of Medical Education, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center St. Margaret, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15215, USA. jason.corbo@gmail.com
Summary
Rapidly increasing the dose of galantamine, a medication for Alzheimer's disease, may cause nightmares and anxiety. Discontinuing the drug resolved these sleep disturbances, suggesting a link between galantamine titration and adverse effects.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Medicine
- Pharmacology
- Neurology
Background:
- Alzheimer's disease management often involves cholinesterase inhibitors like galantamine.
- Assessing adverse drug reactions is crucial for patient safety and treatment adherence.
Observation:
- A 90-year-old male with Alzheimer's disease experienced recurrent nightmares and anxiety after initiating galantamine.
- Symptoms correlated with the dose escalation of galantamine, starting at 4 mg twice daily and increasing to 8 mg twice daily.
- Nightmares and anxiety ceased upon discontinuation of galantamine, with stable memory function.
Findings:
- Galantamine, particularly with rapid dose titration, can be associated with uncommon adverse events such as nightmares and anxiety.
- The temporal relationship suggests galantamine-induced sleep disturbances in this patient.
Implications:
- While galantamine-associated nightmares may be rare, they can significantly impact a patient's quality of life.
- Clinicians should consider sleep disturbances when titrating galantamine and explore alternative therapies if necessary.
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