donepezil vs galantamine
Side-by-side comparison of donepezil and galantamine Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Aricept
Razadyne
Donepezil is a medicine used to treat dementia caused by Alzheimer's disease. It can help improve memory and thinking.
Galantamine extended-release capsules help treat mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. It can improve memory and thinking.
Donepezil treats dementia in people with Alzheimer's disease. It can help with mild, moderate, and severe forms of the disease. This medicine can improve memory, awareness, and the ability to function.
This medicine treats mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's can affect memory, thinking, and behavior. Galantamine may help improve these symptoms.
Donepezil works by increasing a chemical in the brain called acetylcholine. This chemical helps nerve cells communicate better. By increasing acetylcholine, donepezil can improve mental function in people with Alzheimer's.
Galantamine is a cholinesterase inhibitor. It works by increasing the amount of a certain chemical in the brain. This chemical helps nerve cells communicate better.
- • Nausea
- • Diarrhea
- • Trouble sleeping
- • Vomiting
- • Muscle cramps
- • Nausea
- • Vomiting
- • Diarrhea
- • Dizziness
- • Headache
- Falling 2,966
- Death 2,021
- Confusion 1,894
- Diarrhea 1,739
- Dizziness 1,733
- Falling 375
- Problems with thinking 306
- Difficulty pooping 291
- Problems with balance 285
- Low blood pressure 285
This medicine can slow your heart rate or cause fainting. Tell your doctor if you have heart problems. Donepezil can also cause nausea, vomiting, and stomach bleeding. Watch for these side effects, especially when you start taking it or when your dose is increased.
Stop taking galantamine right away if you get a skin rash. This medicine can cause serious skin reactions. This medicine can also slow your heart rate or cause fainting.
Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. This medicine may harm your unborn baby. It is not known if donepezil passes into breast milk, so talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding.
It is not known if galantamine is safe to take during pregnancy. Animal studies suggest a risk to the fetus. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is also not known if galantamine passes into breast milk, so talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding.
Also Compare — Nearby Drugs
Compare donepezil with
Compare galantamine with
How to Read This donepezil vs galantamine Comparison
donepezil is classified in the Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitor drug class, while galantamine sits within the Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitor class. Because both drugs share the same classification, they are often considered interchangeable in theory — but clinical outcomes rarely track that cleanly. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, donepezil has 10,353 submissions while galantamine has 1,542. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume — not per-patient risk — so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. No direct interaction between these two drugs is listed in our FDA-derived dataset, though co-prescription still warrants pharmacist review. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between donepezil and galantamine — always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.