title: Galantamine-associated nightmares and anxiety.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This case report describes recurrent nightmares and anxiety possibly caused by the administration and rapid dose titration of galantamine.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 90-year-old male with Alzheimer's disease was initiated on galantamine 4 mg twice daily for 10 days, followed by 8 mg twice daily thereafter. On followup to the geriatric clinic, the patient reported complaints of nightmares and associated anxiety. The occurrences of nightmares developed after initiating galantamine and temporally increased with galantamine titration. After discontinuation of galantamine, the patient reported no further occurrences of nightmares or anxiety and memory function remained stable.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Galantamine-associated nightmares are an uncommon adverse event and may have been exacerbated by rapid titration. Although such adverse events are unlikely to cause harm in the patient, such sleep abnormalities have the potential to decrease a patient's quality of life and may require the need for alternative therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Education, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center St. Margaret, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15215, USA. jason.corbo@gmail.com
authors.forename: Jason M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Corbo
authors.forename: Jamie N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Jason M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Moss
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy; D001007:Anxiety / Q000139:chemically induced*; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004325:Dreams / Q000187:drug effects*; D005702:Galantamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life; D012008:Recurrence
chemical_list: D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D005702:Galantamine