What Is Galantamine?
Galantamine is a nootropic (mind booster) first isolated in Russia as well as in Bulgaria in the 1950s, as an extract of the herb Galanthus caucasicus, after which it became widely used in Eastern Europe for various psychiatric and neurological ailments, primarily myasthenia (profound weakness) and motor dysfunctional conditions. It is an alkaloid with acetylcholinesterase (AChE)-inhibiting properties, a chief pharmacological property that provides most of its health benefits and the nootropic mode of action. It can be extracted from herbs or manufactured in a synthetic form. Galantamine increases the amount and consequently the action of acetylcholine in various parts of the brain. This mode of action accounts for most of its nootropic qualities. Galantamine aids the phenomenon of lucid dreaming by increasing the Acetylcholine, AMP, and alkaloid receptors of the brain, influencing the production of our brain chemicals that allow us to have dreams.
It is today widely used, including in the U.S., like a prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) drug for the treatment of Alzheimer disease (a disease that affects the central nervous system and insidiously destroys the functions of the memory and the ability to learn, plan, socialize as well as handle trivial activities) and vascular dementia. Absorption of Galantamine in the human organism, following oral intake, is rapid and highest concentrations are achieved in 30 minutes to one hour. Its half-life is on average of 7 hours. Binding to proteins is low, at some 18%.
Benefits
Galantamine has several benefits for its users. For example, in Alzheimer’s Disease, Galantamine is thought to act primarily through the cholinergic system, due to its ability – particularly in the presence of choline supplementation – to increase the levels of the neurotransmitter, Acetylcholine, in the brain. Galantamine indirectly boosts Acetylcholine by inhibiting the effects of a specific enzyme called acetylcholinesterase (AchE), that breaks down the Acetylcholine. Through this action, most of the Acetylcholine is available to the brain’s neural receptors, which to a certain extent improve some of the severe symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease.
Its further health use is as a sleep aid. Galantamine promotes healthy sleep by increasing of the R.E.M. (Rapid Eye Movement) stage which provides the strongest relaxation. Anecdotal reports suggest that Galantamine may cause very lucid dreaming and a minority of users take it for that purpose. However, it needs to be emphasized that Galantamine consumed in regular doses has no hallucinogenic or psychedelic effects neither it has any influence on the somatosensory system. Lucid Dreaming has many health benefits and is an enormous way that many psychoanalysis patients help delve into traumas and past experiences. Galantamine makes the phenomenon easier, more likely to occur, and increases how vivid an impression the experience makes on your mental psyche.
Isolated studies and other clinical evidence shows support for the assertion that Galantamine may be useful in treating Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD), cognitive decline as a product of aging as well as some sorts of dementia. Given the atypical neuroleptic Risperidone, it suppressed some symptoms of Autism in children, but the research on any conceivable use is still inconclusive. Many studies, however, including clinical trials with humans, support a finding that Galantamine offers robust protection to neural structures and improves memory and other cognitive functions in people who show symptoms of age or event related mental deterioration.
Nootropic Benefits
Modern science has established that Galantamine preserves and protects all forms of memory (long terms as well as short term and working memory) by providing a specific cholinergic function, i.e., improving the efficiency of Acetylcholine as a neurotransmitter implicated in cognition, memory, thinking, mental coordination as well as to a certain level of focus and concentration. The decline of Acetylcholine opens the door not only to diminished mental performance but also to neurotoxic effects, including consequences of stress.
Galantamine has a dual effect on the proper function of Acetylcholine, first by inhibiting acetylcholinesterase, which is an enzyme preventing excess build-up of Acetylcholine in the neural synapses. By elimination of this enzyme during Galantamine intake, the amount of Acetylcholine freely available for transmission of the neural signal is greatly enlarged. The other way Galantamine achieves its nootropic (mind enchasing) effect is by a peculiar effect not shared with other substances. Namely, Galantamine influences receptor molecules that receive signaling by Acetylcholine, by increasing the action of nicotinic Acetylcholine receptors, which further augment the cholinergic action through facilitating Acetylcholine neural reception.
Galantine’s molecular-level action on these receptors furthermore provides protection (‘neuroprotection’) from damage by stress and neurotoxic factors, many of them implicated in brain aging, thereby not only providing cholinergic action but also overall protection of the nervous system.
This strong cholinergic effect, of enough power to secure a relief even in neurodegenerative diseases of advanced stage, provides the chief nootropic effect in a healthy subject. Compelling benefits are insured through changes of neural plasticity that improve memory, learning, data-recall and creative thinking. Effects on concentration and focus are evident but subtle, so, apart from the choline supplementation needed for optimal effect, the user may stack Galantine with Aniracetam for a boost of the memory as well as for providing anxiolytic effect coupled with stronger focus and concentration.
The variety of stacking combinations allows the fullest efficiency of Galamines specifically data-acquisition and recall improvements if the end user adjusts the nootropic stack for a specific pattern of boosting mental performance. It should not be coupled with powerful dopaminergic, however.
Recommended Dosage
Most Galantamine comes in dosages of 4 and 8mg. The dosage for nootropic effects in healthy subjects is 4-16mg, spread two to three times over 24 hours. It is advisable to start with the lowest possible dose and gradually increasing it to a level beyond the uppermost recommended dose which provides the nootropic effect.
Galantamine must be dosed with extreme care because of its interaction with numerous medical drugs. Although there are no adverse effects recorded, it should be avoided during pregnancy and lactation. In patients and other users with any sort of hepatic impairment, the maximal dosage should be 16mg daily.
The sudden appearance of a rash indicates a possible allergy to Galantamine, especially if no other substances are taken prior to the rash’s appearance. In that case, it is advisable to stop taking any Galamantine at once. Although not a strict rule, Galantamine should be taken with food and with plenty of fluids. Before bed, 16mg of Galantamine (2 pills off our website) is by far and away, the best amount for a vivid, lucid dreaming experience.
Side Effects
Generally, Galantamine is well tolerated among healthy adult user. Its usage doesn’t require any lifestyle changes since it has little to no cardiovascular, sleep-disturbing or similar properties. Nausea, headache, dizziness, diarrhea are some of the common side effects that may occur during Galantamine intake. Reduction of dose, stacking with Alpha GPC and choline supplements should help in the case of these unpleasant side effects. Patients with asthma or other breathing obstructions must consult a doctor regarding the eventual use of Galantamine. Galantamine is extremely safe when taken during the day or before bed to induce extreme dreams as well, as its nootropic effect. Take in 8-24mg, 1-3 times daily for best results.
This nootropic has a very safe profile, a fact established during decades of its use. However, it interacts with various prescription and OTC drugs and, unless a physician explicitly makes an affirmative recommendation, a concomitant usage should be avoided. Among these medications are (the list is not exhaustive): Amifampridine, Bepridil, Bupropion, Buserelin, Cisapride, Dronedarone, Escitalopram, Fluoxetine Terfenadine, Ziprasidone.
Is Galantamine Legal?
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves Galantamine in the U.S., primarily as a therapy for Alzheimer’s disease. Apart from this indication, manufacture and sale, as well as purchase, possession, and use by individuals is perfectly legal. If you go to other countries with Galantamine, consult the laws relevant to the jurisdiction. Due to the fact that Galantamine doesn’t cause any psychiatric effect, it is not outlawed anywhere, however, there may be a distinction regarding its status as either prescription or OTC drug.
Final Thoughts
Galantamine is one of the most powerful cholinergic drugs on one hand and a safe drug that can be stacked with a number of nootropics and supplements for optimum boosting of one’s mental performance. It also provides reliable, restful sleep without next-morning sedation or reduction of the R.E.M. phase (a common occurrence with benzodiazepines and Z-drugs) crucial as a key benefit to overall wellness. More importantly, it has a powerful anti-neurotoxic effect and by implication, it protects the nervous system from many factors causing mental aging.
Exercising of these two effects has profound implication in overall health. Insofar the specific mind-expanding action of Galantamine is considered, its strong boost of memory performance and data recall is a crucial benefit for all users whose occupation (students; academics and other professionals) requires the common acquisition of new data, which often grows exponentially in many special fields of interest and occupation.
Having mental vigilance as the one secured by Galantamine and enjoying its neuroprotective qualities is also a convincing case for its inclusion in one’s regimen. The aforementioned neuroplasticity that provides better memory imprint and consolidation increases during chronic supplementation.
The decrease of age-related or lifestyle-induced neural aging, the drug’s proven nootropic benefits that are used clinically, its profound effect on depth of memory and cognition which aids creative thinking and learning new patterns of approach to a problem make Galantamine a very worthy addition to one’s collection of mind-expanders. Overall Galantamine is a grand nootropic for everyday use, and for lucid dreaming. And I highly recommend it as such!
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