title: Long-term efficacy and safety of galantamine in patients with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease: multicenter trial.
abstract: In clinical trials, short-term galantamine treatment produces consistent positive effects on global ratings, cognitive tests, and assessments of activities of daily living and behavior in patients with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease (AD), providing the rationale for longer-term, open-label treatment. In this continuation trial following enrollment in previous 12-month trials, patients received galantamine 24 mg/day for a total of 24 months (total exposure up to 36 months). Primary efficacy measures were the ADAS-cog/11 and DAD. Adverse events (AEs) were coded to WHO preferred terms, including AEs begun in previous trials. Initial improvement in cognitive function was followed by a gradual decline, as measured by increased ADAS-cog/11 scores. At 36 months, ADAS-cog/11 scores increased by a mean (SEM) of 12.4 (0.80) points (P < 0.001) versus a projected 22-point increase for untreated patients. Functional abilities, as measured by the DAD, had decreased significantly at each time point versus baseline (P < 0.001). The most common treatment-emergent AEs were agitation (16.1%), insomnia (12.4%), fall (11.2%), and urinary tract infection (10.2%). AEs were mainly mild to moderate, appropriate for an elderly population, with few judged treatment related. Galantamine 24 mg/day is safe and effective for long-term treatment of mild-to-moderate AD. Potential exists for prolonged benefit with galantamine therapy versus lack of treatment for the long-term.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience and Neurology, University of Kuopio, Kuopio, Finland. tuula.pirttila@kuh.fi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pirttilä
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wilcock
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Truyen
authors.forename: C V
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Damaraju
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005702:Galantamine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D005702:Galantamine