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What is Namenda
MemantineThe Generic name of this drug
Treatment SummaryMemantine is a drug prescribed to treat Alzheimer’s Disease. It is different from other Alzheimer’s medications because it works in a different way than most other treatments. Memantine blocks the effects of glutamate, a chemical in the brain that can be overactive in Alzheimer’s Disease. The prevalence of Alzheimer's Disease is increasing quickly, with 44 million people living with the disease in 2013 and the number predicted to be 115 million by 2050. In 2013, the G8 dementia summit concluded that finding a cure or a disease-modifying therapy for Alzheimer's Disease should be a global priority, with the goal of having a
Namendais the brand name
Namenda Overview & Background
Brand Name
Generic Name
First FDA Approval
How many FDA approvals?
Namenda
Memantine
2003
235
Approved as Treatment by the FDA
Memantine, commonly known as Namenda, is approved by the FDA for 2 uses like Alzheimer's Disease and Alzheimer's Disease .Alzheimer's Disease
Used to treat moderate Alzheimer's Type Dementia in combination with Donepezil
Alzheimer's Disease
Helps manage severe Alzheimer's Type Dementia
Effectiveness
How Namenda Affects PatientsThis drug works by blocking calcium from entering cells that would normally be activated by glutamate. This helps improve the symptoms of Alzheimer's, such as improved cognition and other positive effects on the central nervous system. When taken at high doses, memantine can reduce the brain's ability to learn and remember things. However, when taken at lower doses, it can help with learning and memory, and act as a protective agent against brain cell damage caused by certain neurotransmitters. Memantine has little effect on other receptors or channels like GABA, dopamine, histamine, and glycine. It does, however, act as an antagonist at
How Namenda works in the bodyGlutamate, a chemical found in the brain, can cause too much activity in the nervous system and lead to the symptoms of Alzheimer's. Memantine works by blocking the action of glutamate on certain receptors, called NMDA receptors, which stops this overactivity. While it can't stop the damage caused by Alzheimer's, it can reduce symptoms.
When to interrupt dosage
The dosage of Namenda is contingent upon the diagnosed condition, including Alzheimer's Disease, Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia, Vascular. The amount of dosage is contingent upon the approach of administration (e.g. Kit - Oral or Solution - Oral) illustrated in the table beneath.Condition
Dosage
Administration
Alzheimer's Disease
, 5.0 mg, 10.0 mg, 2.0 mg/mL, 7.0 mg, 14.0 mg, 28.0 mg, 20.0 mg, 5.0 mg/pump actuation, 21.0 mg, 10.0 mg/mL, 15.0 mg, 70.0 mg
, Oral, Tablet, Tablet - Oral, Kit, Kit - Oral, Solution, Solution - Oral, Tablet, film coated, Tablet, film coated - Oral, Capsule, extended release, Capsule, extended release - Oral, Capsule, Capsule - Oral, Liquid, Liquid - Oral, Tablet, coated, Tablet, coated - Oral
Alzheimer's Disease
, 5.0 mg, 10.0 mg, 2.0 mg/mL, 7.0 mg, 14.0 mg, 28.0 mg, 20.0 mg, 5.0 mg/pump actuation, 21.0 mg, 10.0 mg/mL, 15.0 mg, 70.0 mg
, Oral, Tablet, Tablet - Oral, Kit, Kit - Oral, Solution, Solution - Oral, Tablet, film coated, Tablet, film coated - Oral, Capsule, extended release, Capsule, extended release - Oral, Capsule, Capsule - Oral, Liquid, Liquid - Oral, Tablet, coated, Tablet, coated - Oral
Dementia, Vascular
, 5.0 mg, 10.0 mg, 2.0 mg/mL, 7.0 mg, 14.0 mg, 28.0 mg, 20.0 mg, 5.0 mg/pump actuation, 21.0 mg, 10.0 mg/mL, 15.0 mg, 70.0 mg
, Oral, Tablet, Tablet - Oral, Kit, Kit - Oral, Solution, Solution - Oral, Tablet, film coated, Tablet, film coated - Oral, Capsule, extended release, Capsule, extended release - Oral, Capsule, Capsule - Oral, Liquid, Liquid - Oral, Tablet, coated, Tablet, coated - Oral
Alzheimer's Disease
, 5.0 mg, 10.0 mg, 2.0 mg/mL, 7.0 mg, 14.0 mg, 28.0 mg, 20.0 mg, 5.0 mg/pump actuation, 21.0 mg, 10.0 mg/mL, 15.0 mg, 70.0 mg
, Oral, Tablet, Tablet - Oral, Kit, Kit - Oral, Solution, Solution - Oral, Tablet, film coated, Tablet, film coated - Oral, Capsule, extended release, Capsule, extended release - Oral, Capsule, Capsule - Oral, Liquid, Liquid - Oral, Tablet, coated, Tablet, coated - Oral
Alzheimer's Disease
, 5.0 mg, 10.0 mg, 2.0 mg/mL, 7.0 mg, 14.0 mg, 28.0 mg, 20.0 mg, 5.0 mg/pump actuation, 21.0 mg, 10.0 mg/mL, 15.0 mg, 70.0 mg
, Oral, Tablet, Tablet - Oral, Kit, Kit - Oral, Solution, Solution - Oral, Tablet, film coated, Tablet, film coated - Oral, Capsule, extended release, Capsule, extended release - Oral, Capsule, Capsule - Oral, Liquid, Liquid - Oral, Tablet, coated, Tablet, coated - Oral
Dementia, Vascular
, 5.0 mg, 10.0 mg, 2.0 mg/mL, 7.0 mg, 14.0 mg, 28.0 mg, 20.0 mg, 5.0 mg/pump actuation, 21.0 mg, 10.0 mg/mL, 15.0 mg, 70.0 mg
, Oral, Tablet, Tablet - Oral, Kit, Kit - Oral, Solution, Solution - Oral, Tablet, film coated, Tablet, film coated - Oral, Capsule, extended release, Capsule, extended release - Oral, Capsule, Capsule - Oral, Liquid, Liquid - Oral, Tablet, coated, Tablet, coated - Oral
Warnings
Namenda has one acknowledged contraindication, so it must not be employed for the circumstances mentioned in the accompanying table.Namenda ContraindicationsCondition
Risk Level
Notes
Severe Hypersensitivity Reactions
Do Not Combine
Memantine may interact with Pulse Frequency
Common Namenda Drug Interactions
Drug Name
Risk Level
Description
Acenocoumarol
Major
The metabolism of Acenocoumarol can be decreased when combined with Memantine.
Amitriptyline
Major
The metabolism of Amitriptyline can be decreased when combined with Memantine.
Antipyrine
Major
The metabolism of Antipyrine can be decreased when combined with Memantine.
Apomorphine
Major
The metabolism of Apomorphine can be decreased when combined with Memantine.
Artemether
Major
The metabolism of Artemether can be decreased when combined with Memantine.
Namenda Toxicity & Overdose RiskThe toxic dose of memantine (LD50) in mice is 437-498mg/kg and in rats is 328-370mg/kg. Studies in mice and rats have not shown any evidence of cancer, genetic changes, or fertility problems. It is unknown if memantine can be passed through breast milk. Memantine is categorized as a pregnancy category B drug, which means that there are no enough studies to know how it will affect the fetus, so it should only be taken during pregnancy if the potential benefits outweigh the risks.
Namenda Novel Uses: Which Conditions Have a Clinical Trial Featuring Namenda?
41 active studies are examining the potential of Namenda to manage Alzheimer's Disease, Dementia, Vascular and Alzheimer's Disease-related ailments.Condition
Clinical Trials
Trial Phases
Dementia, Vascular
0 Actively Recruiting
Dementia, Vascular
0 Actively Recruiting
Alzheimer's Disease
2 Actively Recruiting
Phase 3, Phase 2
Alzheimer's Disease
0 Actively Recruiting
Alzheimer's Disease
0 Actively Recruiting
Alzheimer's Disease
41 Actively Recruiting
Phase 2, Phase 3, Phase 4, Not Applicable, Phase 1
Namenda Reviews: What are patients saying about Namenda?
5Patient Review
12/16/2019 My father took namenda for over a year and it really helped him in the final stage of Alzheimer's. He was able to remember all of our names and even the names of his grandkids.
5Patient Review
9/3/2017 My elderly father has been dealing with vascular dementia for a while now, but it's progressed significantly in the past few months. He also experiences reduplicative paramnesia and Capgras syndrome. However, since he started taking Namenda a few weeks ago, there has been a marked improvement - even more so in the last few days. His clarity of thought is much greater and his memory has improved (though that wasn't one of the promised benefits). Best of all, this medication doesn't seem to have any negative side effects. Everyone who knows him has noticed the difference.
4.3Patient Review
7/1/2014 I take Namanda and Galantamine together every day, and I haven't experienced any negative side effects. So far it seems to be managing my condition well, better than other medications I've tried in the past (which caused intolerable side effects).
3.3Patient Review
6/20/2014 My husband's doctor prescribed this to him in the hopes of it aiding his memory. He was originally taking 5mg a day, and we saw significant improvement; however, we just increased the dosage to 2x daily and he seems to be more irritable now. We might go back down to 1x daily. Has anyone else experienced this sort of side-effect?
3.3Patient Review
3/6/2014 My husband's doctor recommended this to help with his memory, and it did improve things; however, we had to decrease the dosage because he started becoming really irritable. Has anyone else experienced this side effect?
2.3Patient Review
5/11/2014 My husband started this medication and has since then lost control of his bowels. We haven't been using it for very long, so it's hard to say how effective it is at this point.
2Patient Review
1/23/2015 My 72-year-old husband was prescribed Namenda and Aricept, to be taken twice daily. After just one week on this medication, he became much more confused and would often become argumentative for no reason. He also started having hallucinations occasionally.
1Patient Review
3/10/2019 The generic form of Namenda nearly killed me. I had to go to the hospital via ambulance and they couldn't figure out what was wrong. After two more trips to the doctor, I looked at the side effects of Namenda and realized I was experiencing almost all of them. I stopped taking it immediately.
Patient Q&A Section about namenda
These questions and answers are submitted by anonymous patients, and have not been verified by our internal team.What are side effects of Namenda?
"tiredness, body aches, joint pain, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation"
Answered by AI
Which is better Aricept or Namenda?
"Namenda slows the progression of symptoms in moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease, but it cannot cure it. Aricept can be used to treat dementia caused by all stages of Alzheimer's and can be effective for treating behavioral problems related to dementia."
Answered by AI
How does Namenda help memory?
"Glutamate regulators are drugs that are prescribed in order to improve cognitive functions such as memory, attention, and language. These drugs work by regulating the activity of glutamate, a different chemical messenger that helps the brain process information."
Answered by AI
What is the drug Namenda used for?
"Memantine is used to treat moderate to severe confusion that is related to Alzheimer's disease. It does not cure Alzheimer's disease, but it may improve memory, awareness, and the ability to perform daily functions."
Answered by AI