Two medicines, side by side
Donepezil vs galantamine
Donepezil and galantamine are both labeled for alzheimer's disease. Drugs@FDA records approvals of donepezil since 1996 and of galantamine since 2001. Pharmacies paid $0.0484 per donepezil HCl 10 mg tablet and $0.294 per galantamine hbr 4 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. How each works, in its label's words: Donepezil, “Current theories on the pathogenesis of the cognitive signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease attribute some of them to a deficiency of cholinergic neurotransmission.”; Galantamine, “Although the etiology of cognitive impairment in Alzheimer's disease (AD) is not fully understood, it has been reported that acetylcholine-producing neurons degenerate in the brains of patients with …”
Check it at the source: the donepezil FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 30, 2021); the galantamine FDA label on DailyMed (effective June 1, 2026).
Highlights of the donepezil record
Donepezil (Aricept) · label of December 30, 2021
Used for
From the label: indicationsARICEPT is indicated for the treatment of dementia of the Alzheimer’s type. Efficacy has been demonstrated in patients with mild, moderate, and severe Alzheimer’s disease. ARICEPT is an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor indicated for the treatment of dementia of the Alzheimer’s type. Efficacy has been demonstrated in patients with mild, moderate, and severe Alzheimer’s Disease
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- November 25, 1996
- Generic labelers
- 31 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0484 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 5
Highlights of the galantamine record
Galantamine (Razadyne) · label of June 1, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsGalantamine tablets are indicated for the treatment of mild to moderate dementia of the Alzheimer’s type. Galantamine Tables are a cholinesterase inhibitor indicated for the treatment of mild to moderate dementia of the Alzheimer’s type
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- February 28, 2001
- Generic labelers
- 9 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.294 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 0
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Donepezil label of December 30, 2021, Galantamine label of June 1, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do donepezil and galantamine differ on the record?
How each works, in its label's words: Donepezil, “Current theories on the pathogenesis of the cognitive signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease attribute some of them to a deficiency of cholinergic neurotransmission.”; Galantamine, “Although the etiology of cognitive impairment in Alzheimer's disease (AD) is not fully understood, it has been reported that acetylcholine-producing neurons degenerate in the brains of patients with …”
Both are in FDA's class cholinesterase inhibitors.
Generics: donepezil since 2009; galantamine since 2008 (Drugs@FDA).
| Donepezil | Galantamine | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Alzheimer's disease | Alzheimer's disease |
| Pharmacologic class | Cholinesterase Inhibitor | Cholinesterase Inhibitor |
| How it works (label) | Current theories on the pathogenesis of the cognitive signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease attribute some of them to a deficiency of cholinergic neurotransmission. | Although the etiology of cognitive impairment in Alzheimer's disease (AD) is not fully understood, it has been reported that acetylcholine-producing neurons degenerate in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease. |
| Half-life (label) | n/a | Galantamine has a terminal half-life of about 7 hours. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | November 25, 1996 | February 28, 2001 |
| First generic approved | December 11, 2009 | August 28, 2008 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 31 labelers | 9 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0484 per tablet (Donepezil HCl 10 mg tablet) | $0.294 per tablet (Galantamine hbr 4 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -0.9% | -10% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 5 | 0 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 36,484 | 3,188 |
| DEA schedule | none | none |
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Alternatives to donepezil
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions