Galantamine is an alkaloid first extracted from the flowers of a plant called Galanthus Caucasius. The synthetic supplement formulation of Galantamine was first created in Bulgaria in 1959.
Since this time, it has been used regularly throughout Europe for the treatment of various conditions such as myasthenia, myopathy, and many types of sensory or motor dysfunctions.
Galantamine also remains a very popular Nootropic supplement for memory improvements and enhanced intellectual capacities.
Today, Galantamine is approved by the FDA for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. It is available as both an over the counter formulation and as a prescription medication.



- Inhibits acetylcholinesterase enzyme in the brain
- Improves memory & mental performance
- Boosts concentration & brain cell health
Galantamine Effects:
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Galantamine is thought to have a dual mode of action.
The first part of this activity is that it blocks specific enzymes and enzymatic activity within the brain.
Galantamine is an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor which means that it prevents the Acetylcholinesterase enzyme from breaking down acetylcholine. The Acetylcholine neurotransmitter is involved in some of the most important signaling in the brain related to memory, cognition and attention.
As you age, levels of this neurotransmitter naturally decline and acetylcholine activity is particularly low in individuals with Alzheimer’s and other forms of senile cognitive decline. By moderately increasing Acetylcholine levels in the brain, Galantamine can contribute to better mental performance and greater clarity of thought.
The second action of Galantamine is to modulate nicotinic receptors on brain cells. These are critically important synaptic sites that are responsive to Acetylcholine and a number of other brain chemicals including nicotine (this is how they were named). Galantamine helps to change them in such a way as to preserve their numerical and functional integrity.
Galantamine Benefits:
The primary benefit of Galantamine is as a cognitive enhancer or nootropic supplement. The increase of Acetylcholine is key to these beneficial effects since the neurotransmitter is thought to play a vital role in memory and learning.
Many users will experience an increase in memory formation, an overall improved learning capacity, enhanced attention span (possibly even lengthened), and concentration.
In some cases, sensory perception may also be enhanced resulting in things like colors becoming brighter and sounds sharper.
The supplement also has a number of benefits in related to promoting deep high-quality sleep. Galantamine reviews often cite being able to not only fall asleep faster but also rest more soundly and awake more refreshed. This makes it useful for individuals suffering from insomnia or other sleep disorders.
Another interesting benefit of Galantamine is that of helping users to have lucid dreams. This type of dream is one in which the person knows that they are dream and is actually aware of this.
Even when the end result is not a lucid dream, Galantamine can have the effect of making dreams clearer and more memorable. This is likely due to the fact that increased acetylcholine levels can heighten your dream activity and increase REM sleep duration.
Galantamine Dosage:
The generally accepted dosage range of this supplement is between 4 and 24 mg per day.
Of course the specifics really should be determined by your reason for use. A lucid dreamer will need to take during the night as well as in the day, with a total dose of 4-12 mg.
On rare occasions, going up to the maximum Galantamine dose of 24 mg would be acceptable.
As a Nootropic, you should probably start with the lowest effective dose and then work your way up only after becoming familiar with how it affects your body chemistry.
This is a supplement that has been known to build up tolerance, so you may want to consider using it as part of cycle with at least as much down time as usage. The supplement also has a fairly long half-life of 5 to 6 hours. So, the dosages should be spaced out accordingly to your desired purpose.
Galantamine Side Effects:
Although this supplement is considered to be very safe and generally well-tolerated there are some effects to try and avoid. People allergic to daffodil plants may also be allergic to this supplement.
Common side effects include loss of appetite, nausea, tiredness, dizziness, and headaches. If any type of allergic reaction develops, especially on the skin (hives), immediately discontinue use and seek medical attention.
Galantamine Review:
Galantamine is a highly effective supplement which does produce a lot of nootropic benefits in regards to memory and learning. While there are some possible side effects associated with its use, if you are taking it as directed you will most likely not encounter any negative effects.
To optimize your Acetylcholine levels, you may want to use Galantamine with a Cholinergic supplement such as Alpha GPC or Citicoline. It is also fairly common to take Galantamine in combination with Racetam nootropics like Piracetam or Aniracetam.
In some countries like the UK, you may need a prescription to buy high dosage pills with this compound. If you cannot find Galantamine at your preferred supplement vendor, you may want to try using Huperzine A instead.
Huperzine is also an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor like Galantamine and it tends to be the more popular of the two for use as a nootropic.
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Article last updated on: March 13th, 2018 by Nootriment