Benzgalantamine
ZUNVEYL
What it isOral galantamine prodrug yielding cholinesterase inhibition; symptomatic treatment of Alzheimer dementia.
Why this oneIts prodrug design reduces direct intestinal exposure while preserving galantamine’s central action.
What limits itBradycardia, syncope, nausea, and weight loss remain possible; benefit is symptomatic and fades when treatment stops.
FDA-approved for
- Alzheimer disease (2024)
FDA label
Read the full label on DailyMed ↗
| FDA dosing | Population | Start | Target | Max |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mild-to-moderate dementia of the Alzheimer's type | Adult | 5 mg BID | 10 mg BID after ≥4 weeks | 15 mg BID |
Titration Wait a minimum of 4 weeks at each dose level before increasing
Renal CrCl 9-59 mL/min: do not exceed 10 mg BID; CrCl <9: not recommended
Hepatic Moderate (Child-Pugh 7-9): do not exceed 10 mg BID; severe (10-15): not recommended; no adjustment for mild
Instructions
- Swallow whole; do not split, crush, or chew (delayed-release tablet)
- Take with or without food; do not take with alcohol
- Ensure adequate fluid intake
- If interrupted >3 days, restart at lowest dose and re-titrate
Cautions
- Serious skin reactions (Stevens-Johnson syndrome, AGEP) — discontinue at first rash
- Vagotonic effects — bradycardia and AV block; dose-related syncope
- GI bleeding risk, especially with ulcer history or NSAIDs
- Bladder outflow obstruction; seizures; caution in severe asthma/COPD
- Increases neuromuscular blockade of succinylcholine-type agents during anesthesia
Adverse reactions
- Nausea (21%)
- Vomiting (11%)
- Diarrhea (7%)
- Dizziness (8%), headache (7%)
- Decreased appetite/weight
Pregnancy No adequate human data; animal developmental toxicity (skeletal variations, decreased pup growth)
Lactation No human data on benzgalantamine or galantamine in milk
NO BOXED WARNINGS
Principal riskBradycardia; benefit is symptomatic only
Classes and tags
Clinical profile
Active metabolites
Mechanism of action: Benzgalantamine ballicule
Open Benzgalantamine in the interactive console ↗
Memory aids: mascots and interaction avatars
baby blue theme → muscarinic
sky lantern → galantamine theme
