Galantamine - Medpedia login / create an account The content on or accessible through Medpedia.com is for informational purposes only. Medpedia is not a substitute for professional advice or expert medical services from a qualified healthcare provider. Read more is a prescription drug used for the treatment of dementia in Alzheimer Disease (AD). It belongs to a family of drugs known as cholinesterase inhibitors. Other members of this family include tacrine (Cognex), donepezil (Aricept), and rivastigmine (Exelon). Cholinesterase inhibitors increase the levels of acetylcholine in the brain. Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter, a chemical that relays messages from one neuron to another or from a neuron to a muscle or other tissue. Low levels of acetylcholine may underlie some of the cognitive deficits seen in the disease. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved galantamine in June 2001.
