Drug Warning: Reminyl (updated name, razadyne)

Generic name: galantamine hydrobromide (class of drugs known as acetylcholinesterase inhibitors)

Manufactured and marketed by: Ortho-McNeil, a subsidiary of Johnson and Johnson

Purpose: Designed to treat patients who suffer from mild to moderate cases of Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's disease is a condition where the patient has trouble with memory and thinking due to dying nerve cells in the brain. Alzheimer's is an extremely debilitating disease that affects millions of people and is also believed to be the leading cause of dementia.

Side Effects Reported

• A total of 15 of the patients taking Reminyl during the study died either while taking the drug or within 30 days after discontinuation of the drug.
• On the other hand the patients in the placebo group only suffered only 5 deaths. The causes of death for all of those who died were from causes that are common in the elderly population including heart attack, sudden death and stroke.

Industry Report

The name was changed after several instances of prescribing and dispensing errors were reported.

Seeger Weiss is not currently pursuing lawsuits on this drug, but its drug warnings will remain on our radar.

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