memantine

Generic Name: memantine
Other Brand Names: Namenda

What is memantine?

Memantine reduces the actions of chemicals in the brain that may contribute to the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.

Memantine is used to treat moderate to severe dementia of the Alzheimer’s type.

Memantine may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

Uses Side Effects Precautions Interactions Overdose
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking memantine?

Do not use this medication if you are allergic to memantine.

Before using memantine, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:

  • epilepsy or other seizure disorder;

  • cataracts;

  • liver disease;

  • kidney disease; or

  • a bladder or kidney infection.

If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to use memantine, or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment.

FDA pregnancy category B. This medication is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

It is not known whether memantine passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I take memantine?

Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results from this medication.

Take this medicine with a full glass of water.

Memantine can be taken with or without food.

The liquid (oral solution) form of this medication comes with patient instructions for safe and effective use. Follow these directions carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.

Do not mix the oral solution with any other liquids.

Rinse the empty oral syringe with clean water and allow it to air dry after every use.

It is important to use memantine regularly to get the most benefit. Get your prescription refilled before you run out of medicine completely.

To be sure this medication is helping your condition, and is not causing harmful effects, doctor will need to check your progress on a regular basis. Do not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor.

Store memantine at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Keep the liquid medicine bottle tightly closed with the cap provided. Do not store the bottle with the oral syringe in it.

What happens if I miss a dose of memantine?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at your next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

Where can I get more information about memantine?
Your pharmacist has information about memantine written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of memantine?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using memantine and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

  • cough, chest tightness, fever, trouble breathing;

  • chest pain, fast heart rate;

  • confusion, hallucinations;

  • sudden numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the body;

  • lack of coordination;

  • fainting or seizure (convulsions);

  • urinating less than usual or not at all;

  • pale skin, easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness; or

  • increased blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision, trouble concentrating, chest pain, numbness, seizure).

Continue taking memantine and talk to your doctor if you experience:

  • nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, loss of appetite;

  • dizziness, tired feeling;

  • weight loss;

  • swelling in your hands or feet;

  • fast heart rate;

  • easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness;

  • joint pain;

  • anxiety, aggression;

  • skin rash;

  • redness or swelling of or around your eyes; or

  • urinating more than usual.

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What is the most important information I should know about memantine?

Before using memantine, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have a seizure disorder, cataracts, liver or kidney disease, or a bladder or kidney infection.

Memantine can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.

What should I avoid while taking memantine?

Memantine can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.

What other drugs will affect memantine?

Before taking memantine, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:

  • cimetidine (Tagamet);

  • nicotine (Commit, Habitrol, Nicoderm, Nicotrol, Nicorette);

  • ranitidine (Zantac);

  • quinidine (Cardioquin, Quinadex, Quinaglute);

  • sodium bicarbonate (Alka-Seltzer, baking soda antacid home remedy);

  • antiviral medication such as amantadine (Symmetrel) or rimantadine (Flumadine);

  • cold or cough medicine that contains dextromethorphan;

  • a diuretic (water pill) such as hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ, HydroDiuril, Hyzaar, Lopressor, Vasoretic, Zestoretic) or triamterene (Dyrenium, Maxzide, Dyazide);

  • medicine to treat glaucoma, such as acetazolamide (Diamox), dichlorphenamide (Daranide), or methazolamide (Neptazane, MZM, Glauctabs); or

  • an oral diabetes medicine that contains metformin (such as Fortamet, Glucophage, Actoplus Met, Avanda met, Metaglip, Glucovance).

If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to use memantine, or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment.

There may be other drugs not listed that can affect memantine. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

What happens if I have an overdose of memantine?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.

Symptoms of a memantine overdose may include restlessness, drowsiness, unusual behavior, hallucinations, feeling light-headed, or fainting.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed. Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Content provided by Multum - Last Updated 2/11/2008