Study suggests Reminyl XL/Razadyne (galantamine hydrobromide) provides benefits in metabolic syndrome- Janssen Pharma

Alzheimer's medication Reminyl XL/Razadyne (galantamine hydrobromide) from Janssen Pharma, appears to slash inflammation and insulin resistance in patients with metabolic syndrome, a potential therapeutic intervention for a highly dangerous condition affecting 30 percent of adults in the United States, according to new clinical trial results by scientists. In a study in JCI Insight, researchers found that the FDA-approved Alzheimer's drug galantamine cut key markers of inflammation � a hallmark of metabolic syndrome � by more than 25 percent, leading to reduced insulin resistance.

At the end of the 12-week treatment period, those treated with galantamine experienced significantly reduced levels of pro-inflammatory molecules and higher levels of anti-inflammatory molecules compared to placebo patients. The galantamine group also experienced a significant decrease in insulin levels and insulin resistance compared with the placebo group. A cluster of four risk factors � increased blood pressure, a high blood sugar level, excess body fat around the waist and abnormal cholesterol levels � comprise metabolic syndrome, which greatly raises risks for cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.

Comment: there is no treatment for metabolic syndrome as a whole, leaving physicians to tackle the condition by treating symptoms. The graduated doses of galantamine used on study participants � 8 mg and 16 mg daily in the intervention group � were still lower than the highest approved dose for Alzheimer's patients of 24 mg daily, and none of the patients experienced serious side effects.