A better lucid dream producer than galantamine?
As I have previously posted, I occasionally take galantamine before bedtime for a little recreational dream enhancement.
The following is, of course, N=1 and entirely subjective:
Galantamine tends to produce wild, colorful, sometimes incoherent dreams and doesn’t perhaps produce the most restful night’s sleep. So, I began looking for a better vivid dream producer.
“A Mayo Clinic overview of cholinesterase inhibitors notes that if these drugs (including donepezil) are taken at night, they may cause vivid dreams.”
I decided I would give donepezil a try, and I ordered some 10 mg tablets from India.
After receiving them, I titrated up by cutting the pills in half and took them a few hours before bedtime. (NOTE: A rather long titration time is suggested when first using donepezil.) I only did this for a week because I knew that I have no problems with galantamine.
After a week, I tried taking a full dose of 10 mg. I was pleasantly surprised. The dreams are very vivid, immensely detailed, and colorful. Compared to galantamine, the dreams are much more coherent and saga-like. In addition, I felt completely rested in the morning, unlike a morning after galantamine.
In short, I find donepezil a much better vivid dream producer than galantamine.
Donepezil has fewer side effects than galantamine.
Donepezil is an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, increasing acetylcholine in the brain.
Acetylcholine is a key neuromodulator for REM sleep and dreaming; higher cholinergic activity is associated with more intense REM episodes and richer dream imagery.
It is suggested that donepezil enhances activation of visual association cortex during REM sleep
A Mayo Clinic overview of cholinesterase inhibitors notes that if these drugs (including donepezil) are taken at night, they may cause vivid dreams.
Structural comparison
| Feature |
Donepezil |
Galantamine |
| Class |
Donepezil is a synthetic compound and a piperidine derivative. |
Galantamine is a naturally occurring alkaloid, isolated from certain species of daffodils and snowdrops. |
| Core Structure |
The donepezil molecule features a central piperidine ring with two key side groups: a dimethoxyindanone group and a benzyl group. |
Galantamine’s core structure consists of a fused tetracyclic skeleton that includes a benzofuran and a benzazepine ring. |
| Origin |
It was developed artificially and approved by the FDA in 1996. |
As a natural product, its first industrial synthesis was developed in 1959. |
Side Effects Donepezil is generally associated with a lower incidence of common gastrointestinal side effects compared to galantamine. Common side effects are similar to those of donepezil, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and dizziness, but they tend to occur more frequently with galantamine
