A Guide to Galantamine: The Most Effective and Well-Known Dreaming Supplement

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Galanta-what? Galantmine, one of the most effective and well-known dreaming supplements available to the mass market. For those of you who are either unfamiliar or already users, I would like to share with you an overview of the effects this supplement has and the principles on which it works, as well as the basics of proper use, proper safety, and my own personal experience. I have decided to post this in an effort to get the word out to the average lucid dreamer who does not know about, or has not yet considered, dreaming supplements. Taken properly, supplements are a powerful tool for improving the quality and ease of attaining a lucid dream. However, they are no silver bullet and all current lucid techniques and practices remain relevant, if not more so. In the words of a Chinese proverb, they will “open the door, but you must enter by yourself”. So in the interest of that, let us start by asking ourselves… What makes us dream? It has long been believed that the 5-HT and cholinergic systems (serotonin and acetylcholine respectively) play a principle role in the meditation of sleep cycles. Throughout a sleep cycle, the dominance of one of these neurotransmitters helps the body transition to and maintains a sleep stage. Serotonin, the neurotransmitter most known for its regulation of mood, is responsible for the deeper non dreaming (NREM) stages of sleep. Acetylcholine, a regulator of sensory stimulus and memory, triggers the lighter and more active stages where we dream (REM). Of course you are probably wondering… Why should I care? For the fledging neurochemist there are benefits to artificially boosting either of these neurotransmitters for both sleep and recreational use. Increased serotonin can boost sleep quality and mood. Most antidepressants work on this principle as well as supplements sold on store shelves. 5-HTP and melatonin (both members of the 5-HT system) are sold unregulated as natural antidepressants and sleep aids and can work well for that purpose. On the other side, increased acetylcholine can have a profound effect on the length and quality of dreams. However, supplements affecting the cholinergic system are harder to come by and must be taken properly to achieve effect. Choline salts, alpha-GPC, and huperzine A are all known to work on this system, the best among them being Galantamine. What does it do? Galantamine gets right in the middle of the cholinergic system, inhibiting the production of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) the chief chemical responsible for breaking down acetylcholine. In short, it temporarily increases the concentration of acetylcholine in the brain. While asleep this triggers the REM stage immediately and causes you to dream. Does it work? Speaking solely from personal experience, I can say with a resounding yes. I have been taking an 8mg dose during my WBTB attempts for several months now. I have not only had profoundly vivid and dynamic dreams but also a high chance of lucidity nearly every night I take it. The best personal description I can give is like this. A proper lucid dreaming attempt depends on many factors outside of your control. Things such as the sleep stage you renter sleep to, the length and quality of your REM periods, your alertness, motivation and more. What Galantamine does is takes much of that out of the equation. It gives you a guaranteed long and immediate REM stage as soon as you return to sleep. It will not create lucidity for you, but it will certainly tip the odds in your favor. For those interested in a wake-induced-lucid-dream (WILD) a direct entrance to REM will drastically reduce the time you will have to lie in wait and ultimately guarantee you an eventual entrance into a dream. For those doing a more typical dream-induced-lucid-dream (DEILD) you will be more conscious of your surroundings while dreaming. This will make dream signs easier to identify and irregularities more apparent. Once lucid, you will have up to an hour of high quality uninterrupted dreaming sleep. Even if you fail to obtain lucidity you can look forward to a vivid traditional dream. Unfortunately, I have personally found it to be a one shot. Galantamine suppresses the deeper sleep stages, so once your REM cycle has ended you are unlikely to complete another sleep cycle. You may be able to return to sleep but without a complete cycle (including deep sleep) you will not renter REM. How should I take it? Because of the sleep cycle altering effects of Galantamine, it should not be taken early in the night. Depriving yourself of quality deep sleep early will limit your ability to dream as the night progresses. Because of this, Galantamine is best taken after at least 5 hours of normal sleep. This fits well into the common wake-back-to-bed (WBTB) routine. Galantamine is completely absorbed by your body in about an hour, if taken immediately upon waking you will be ready to return to bed in about that time. A proper dose ranges from 4mg to 16mg with the most common being 8mg. I found 8mg sufficient for me (160lb male) but everyone has a different response. As always, start with the lowest dose and increase only as necessary. Galantamine has a long half-life of 7 hours. For an 8mg dose it will take 48 hours to completely leave your body. For this purpose it is best taken only on alternating nights to prevent higher levels from building up in your system. Personally, I limit myself to three uses on alternating nights before breaking for several days. This is to resist tolerance and preserve sleep quality. Due to the very nature of Galantamine’s effect on sleep, sleep quality may be disturbed. Be sure only to take it on days when you have plenty of time to sleep and are not running a high sleep debt. What about side effects? Mild gastrointestinal issues are very common and which I have experienced myself. Eating a small snack along with the Galantamine has relieved this for me completely. Higher doses of Galantamine and longer WBTB times may make it difficult to return to sleep. If you are a light sleeper try reducing the dose or more preferentially decreasing the time you spend awake. This allows the Galantamine to activate when you are already asleep. Find the right balance that works for you. Acetylcholine also plays a role in the peripheral nervous system as a muscular stimulant. Galantamine is partially absorbed by the peripheral nervous system and thus may cause some effect. I have only personally experienced this in doses greater than 12mg. It manifests as a slight trembling sensation in the muscles and an urge to move, similar to what you might think of as restless leg syndrome. Personally I have also noticed some positive effects. Improved motivation, mood, and alertness are apparent and lasting for most of the day following use. Galantamine is a well-known nootropic and is also used for that purpose alone. Is it legal? Safe? Speaking only for the United States, Galantamine is legal in the sense that it is unregulated with no known prosecutions or schedule status. It is sold via prescription under the drug name Razadyne and others, however it is widely available online nonprescription. Galantamine is generally regarded as safe and has been used for decades in Eastern Europe and the USSR for neuromuscular diseases. More recently it has been used in the US for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and is FDA approved for that purpose. Doses used for these purposes are usually daily and exceed that for lucid dreaming. Based on data from two studies of patients with mild cognitive impairment, the FDA has issued an alert warning of slow resting heart rate, increased risk of fainting, and possible atrioventricular block in predisposed persons taking Galantamine. However these side effects have rarely led to treatment discontinuation and have not been reported in any studies of healthy persons. If you suffer from any of these conditions please take extra caution when considering if and how to take Galantamine. If at any time uncomfortable or unusual side effects manifest themselves, reduce or discontinue use immediately. If you suspect an allergic reaction, seek medical help. Galantamine is not for use with proscribed anti-colinergics. Review all drugs you are currently taking for possible interactions with Galantamine. Do not take chances with your health. Where can I get some? How much does it cost? Galantamine is best taken either alone or with Choline. Although it is sometimes sold with it, do not take it with melatonin as it will negate the effect. I personally use and can vouch for a combined mixture of 4mg Galantamine 200mg Choline sold under the name Galantamind and is available via Amazon and other websites for around $40 for 90 capsules. You are highly unlikely to find it available in stores and no known supplement store chains carry it or any other form of Galantamine. Although Choline itself is commonly available in stores, it has little effect on its own. Other brands exist and may be cheaper than Galantamind. Choose carefully and try to find some external validation for your source. This is not the place to be penny pinching. I want to know more. For those considering taking Galantamine I highly suggest not taking my word for it and doing your own research. The following pages have been very useful for me along with Thomas Yuschak’s book “Advanced Lucid Dreaming: The Power of Supplements”. Acetylcholine - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Serotonin - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Galantamine - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Galantamine and Choline: A Guide « Lucid All Night Galantamine Protects Neurons and Memory Following Brain Injury | Life Enhancement Products Amazon.com: Advanced Lucid Dreaming: The Power of Supplements (9781430305422): Thomas Yuschak: Books If you have any questions feel free to ask them, or share your personal experiences with Galantamine. If there are any errors or inconsistencies in my post please let me know so I can correct them. Whatever methods you choose to get lucid, good luck to all of you and the furthering of your lucid goals.