Would you consider Galantamine by itself a drug?

Question

Galantamine is sold as Razadyne for the treament of Alzheimer's patients. But over the counter it's sold in supplement form. So what's the difference? I know galantime is labeled as an an achetylcholinesterase inhibitor. Would you consider it a hallucinogen, nootropic, alternative drug or similar in strength to a vitamin?

I'm trying to gauge it's relative strength here. Also, would it's effects be permenant if used over a period of a few months?

Answer 1

Supplements are often raw forms of prescription medications.  For example, red yeast extract contains lovastatin, one of the earliest HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) also marketed as Mevacor.  The major difference is that "supplements" are not monitored by the FDA and the vast majority do not have the stringent quality or quantity self-restrictions that major pharmaceuticals perform.  In other words, they do not usually contain the same amount of the chemical and generally not in its purest form.

Many people tout these formulations as "safe" because they are "natural," but in reality, they are usually only safer in the sense that they generally contain less of the chemical than the trade drug and the formulations generally do not contain *harmful* contaminants.

Brand-name supplements are still produced by large companies in pharmaceutical factories, but are generally isolated as well as can be from their natural sources.  Others have no specific "medical" use and are allowed by the FDA because they are not considered harmful.

Your doctor or associated staff may ask you at each visit if you take herbal supplements or over the counter medications.  The reason is that these chemicals still have physiologic effects, have to be processed by your body, and therefore often interact with prescription medications.

If you take medications or have chronic medical problems, consult your doctor about the safety of herbal supplements prior to starting them.  And if he doesn't know, ask him to look it up.