Narcissus and Daffodil

Narcissus patents 415
includes the use of methylphenidate and amphetamines. Claims for the modification
of these behavioral problems if proved in the clinic could lead to an effective
therapy that avoids the use of potentially habit forming drugs. (Another patent
from different authors claims ADHD, but also the rarer and more bizarre
Tourette’s syndrome, as an indication for galanthamine (Davis, 1999).)
Counteraction of sedation, hypnosis or respiratory depression seen during
benzodiazepine therapy, especially when high doses are given, can be achieved by
co-administering galanthamine or its analogues or derivatives without interfering
with the anxiolytic, anti-psychotic, anti-convulsant or muscle relaxant activities of
the benzodiazepines. Particular emphasis is made in one of two patents from the
same authors stressing the advantage of such combined therapy in patients with
schizophrenia, but the patent also includes those suffering from anxiety, anxiety
neurosis, panic disorders and agitating depression, as well as other psychiatric
conditions.
Patients suffering from schizophrenia may experience improvement in states of
apathy and aboulia when treated with 2 mg of amizil 1 to 3 times daily in conjunction
with injections 30 minutes later of 2 ml of 0.5% galanthamine solution once or
twice a day according to another patent (Kamenetski and Losev, 1985).
Alcohol and nicotine dependency can both be favourably influenced by galanthamine
therapy according to two patents (Oplitz, 1991; Moormann and Moormann,
1994), who particularly stress the possibility of reducing the desire for
alcohol or nicotine in addicted patients. These patents particularly, but not only,
mention the transdermal delivery of galanthamine in such cases.
Given the early use of galanthamine it is not surprising, but very pleasing, to
find a reference to treating spastic forms of cerebral paralysis in children with
galanthamine and other drugs prior to bio-training sessions. Motor function was
improved by 46% when galanthamine was used, compared with 33% for biotraining
without galanthamine or 14% when galanthamine was used alone (Bogdanov
et al., 1984).
Electrodiagnostic methods for determining the degree of damage to a nerve can
be improved in terms of accuracy by administering to the patient 1 ml of 1% galanthamine
in solution a half to one hour prior to testing (Korletyanu, 1986).
Administering a cholinesterase inhibitor, such as galanthamine, either alone or
in combination with levodopa, reduces rigidity, improves muscle function and
alleviates dementia in Parkinson’s Disease (Hutchinson, 1998).
Acute di:phenyl-hydramine poisoning can be treated more effectively, quicker
and in a shorter period of time with riboxin (inosine) given together with galanthamine
(Afanasev and Lukin, 1993).
A bio-stimulant composed of a lyophilised hydrosylate of royal jelly, creatinine,
a calcium-magnesium salt of inositol phosphoric acid and galanthamine hydrochloride
is claimed to be useful for patients recovering from severe or chronic illnesses.
The combination is also claimed to help persons such as sportsmen or
soldiers under great physical stress by acting on ‘the energy balance of the body,
improving the activity of the central and peripheral nervous systems and of
cardiac and striated muscle’ (Kirov et al., 1983).
Another patent covers the alleviation of jet-lag, whereby galanthamine is used
as a means of resetting a person’s internal clock. The compound is given as an
attention increasing agent to travellers prior to departure. The drug should be