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Tools and resources for your patients

Help them stay active and engaged

Useful information and online resources you can use to educate your patients about Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Answers to common questions about AD

Your patients and their caregivers may have a million questions about Alzheimer's disease, its possible causes, and what lies ahead for them. To help them understand the implication of the diagnosis and help them create an effective management plan, the following information is provided as a service to your patients.

Could my memory loss just be a sign of aging?¹

In some instances, yes. Misplacing your eyeglasses or forgetting a phone number occasionally can be normal. However, if your forgetfulness interferes with your ability to work or perform daily activities and maybe other people are taking notice, you may have the warning signs of Alzheimer's disease (AD).

What is AD?^2,3

Alzheimer's disease is a brain disease that affects a person's ability to remember, reason, and communicate. Millions of Americans have AD. It is a progressive disease and the most common form of dementia that usually develops in those aged 65 or older.

What causes AD?

To date, the causes are unknown, however, it is believed that microscopic structures called plaques and tangles form in the brains of people with AD. Brain cells stop working and begin to die. Although these changes can occur throughout the brain, they happen mainly in those parts of the brain that are needed for memory and learning. Other areas of the brain generally aren´t affected until very late in the illness.⁴

While the cause is not clear, researchers have identified certain risk factors for AD. It is believed that age, family history, and genetics play critical roles in the risk of developing AD. Other factors like a previous head injury or heart condition may also be involved.³

What are the symptoms?⁴

The brain cell damage associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD) often occurs long before any symptoms appear. The first thing most people notice is memory loss affecting work or activities at home. Other symptoms include confusion, getting lost in familiar places, difficulty communicating or remembering words, or an inability to follow instructions.

Is there a cure?²

There is no cure for AD, however, there are treatments that can help slow the progression of symptoms. Medical science is learning more about AD all the time, and new treatments are on the horizon.
There is no evidence that galantamine alters the course of the underlying dementing process.

How long does it take AD to progress?^1,3

Alzheimer's disease advances at different rates for different people. The length of illness may vary from 4 to 20 years and may be viewed as having different stages of progression.

Can treatment stop the progression of some of the symptoms of AD?⁵

Certain medications may help maintain thinking abilities for a time. The sooner an AD diagnosis is made, the sooner you can talk to your family and plan for your care.
There is no evidence that galantamine alters the course of the underlying dementing process.

When should I see my healthcare professional?

If you or a loved one suspects that your forgetfulness is keeping you from functioning in daily activities, it's time to seek help.

When they know something is wrong...we may be able to help

You've probably found that when your patients are diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, they often don't fully understand the implications of the diagnosis. These online websites provide the resources and tools your patients can use to find information and support after diagnosis. To view a website, turn on your Web browser and click on the site's address.

Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has designed a consumer website –– www.RazadyneER.com -- to provide patients with information about Alzheimer's disease and its treatment with RAZADYNE^® ER. After you prescribe RAZADYNE^® ER, you can direct your patients to this website, where they'll find useful tools and information to help manage their disease.

Disclaimer: The following resources are listed here as a service to provide you with information to share with your patients. The information includes resources developed and maintained by Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., as well as external sites that link you to resources and tools. Neither Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. nor RAZADYNE^® ER endorses the content on any of the external sites provided, but offers them as an informational resource to be used at your discretion.

Online Informational websites
RAZADYNE^® ER (galantamine HBr) website	www.RazadyneER.com	Information about Alzheimer's disease and treatment with RAZADYNE^® ER
Alzheimer's Disease Education and Referral Center	www.nia.nih.gov/alzheimers	Information and resources from the National Institutes of Health's National Institute on Aging
National Institute on Aging	www.nia.nih.gov	General information, causes, symptoms and treatment
Alzheimer's Association	www.alz.org	Provides in-depth information and resources
Alzheimer's Foundation of America	www.alzfdn.org	Information about care, services and member organizations
Hotlines
Alzheimer's Association 24-hour hotline	1-800-272-3900
MedicAlert® + Safe Return® 24-hour enrollment	1-888-572-8566
Alzheimer's Disease Education & Referral (ADEAR) Center	1-800-438-4380

Alzheimer's Association. What is Alzheimer's disease? Available at http://alz.org/AboutAD/WhatIsAD.asp. Accessed January 30, 2007.
Alzheimer's Association. Stages of Alzheimer's Disease. Available at http://alz.org/aboutad/stages.asp. Accessed January 30, 2007.
Alzheimer's Association. Alzheimer's disease fact sheet. Available at http://www.alz.org/national/documents/
FSADFacts.pdf. January 30, 2007.
National Institute on Aging. The changing brain in Alzheimer's disease. Available at: http://www.nia.nih.gov/Alzheimers/
Publications/UnravelingTheMystery/
Part1/ChangingBrainInAlzheimer.htm. Accessed January 30, 2007.
Alzheimer’s Association. Facts and Figures 2011, pg. 8.

There is no evidence that galantamine alters the course of the underlying dementing process.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

In clinical trials, once-daily treatment with RAZADYNE^® ER was well tolerated and the adverse events were similar to those seen with twice daily RAZADYNE^® tablets.

Anesthesia
Cholinesterase inhibitors, such as galantamine HBr, are likely to exaggerate the neuromuscular blocking effects of succinylcholine-type and similar neuromuscular blocking agents during anesthesia.

Cardiovascular events
Because of their pharmacologic action, cholinesterase inhibitors have vagotonic effects on the sinoatrial (SA) and atrioventrical (AV) nodes, leading to bradycardia and AV block. These actions may be particularly important to patients with superventricular cardiac conduction disorders, or to patients taking other drugs concomitantly that significantly slow heart rate. In clinical trials, galantamine HBr was associated with more frequent reports of bradycardia and syncope vs placebo. Post marketed surveillance of marketed anticholinesterase inhibitors has shown that bradycardia and all types of heart block have been reported in patients both with and without known underlying cardiac conduction abnormalities. All patients should be considered at risk for adverse effects on cardiac conduction.

Gastrointestinal
Cholinesterase inhibitors may increase gastric acid secretion. Patients should be monitored closely for symptoms of active or occult gastrointestinal bleeding, especially those with an increased risk of developing ulcers, eg, those with a history of ulcer disease or patients using concurrent nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Genitourinary
Cholinesterase inhibitors may cause bladder outflow obstruction.

Neurological conditions
Cholinesterase inhibitors are believed to have some potential to cause generalized convulsions. Seizure activity may also be a manifestation of Alzheimer's disease. In clinical trials, there was no increase in the incidence of convulsions with galantamine HBr compared with placebo.

Pulmonary conditions
Cholinesterase inhibitors should be prescribed with care to patients with a history of asthma or obstructive pulmonary disease.

Deaths in subjects with mild cognitive impairment (MCI)
In controlled trials in elderly subjects with MCI, 13 subjects on RAZADYNE^® (n=1026) and 1 subject on placebo (n=1022) died of various causes. About half of the RAZADYNE^® deaths appeared to result from various vascular causes (myocardial infarction, stroke, and sudden death). RAZADYNE^® and RAZADYNE^® ER are not indicated for the treatment of MCI.

Hepatic or renal impairment
In patients with moderately impaired hepatic or renal function, dose titration should proceed cautiously. The use of RAZADYNE^® or RAZADYNE^® ER in patients with severe hepatic impairment or severely impaired renal function
(Cl _cr < 9 mL/min) is not recommended.

Most common Adverse Events
The most common adverse events occuring at rate of at least 5% and at least twice that of placebo at the recommended maintenance dose of either 16 or 24 mg/day under conditions of every 4 week dose escalation for each 8-mg increase were nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia, and weight decrease.

Please see full Prescribing Information.

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This information is intended for the use of our customers, patients and healthcare professionals in the United States and Puerto Rico only. Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. recognizes that the Internet is a global communications medium; however, laws, regulatory requirements and medical practices for pharmaceutical products vary from country to country. The prescribing information included here may not be appropriate for use outside the United States and Puerto Rico.

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This page was last updated on May 14 2012 at 12:41:31 EDT.