Namenda

Dementia, Vascular, Dementia, Vascular, Alzheimer's Disease + 3 more

Treatment

4 FDA approvals

20 Active Studies for Namenda

What is Namenda

Memantine

The Generic name of this drug

Treatment Summary

Memantine 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

Namenda

is the brand name

image of different drug pills on a surface

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 4 uses like Alzheimer's Disease and moderate Alzheimer's Type Dementia .

Alzheimer's Disease

Used to treat moderate Alzheimer's Type Dementia in combination with Donepezil

moderate Alzheimer's Type Dementia

Used to treat moderate Alzheimer's Type Dementia in combination with Donepezil

severe Alzheimer's Type Dementia

Helps manage severe Alzheimer's Type Dementia

Alzheimer's Disease

Helps manage severe Alzheimer's Type Dementia

Effectiveness

How Namenda Affects Patients

This 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 body

Glutamate, 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 - Oral, Solution, Tablet, film coated, Tablet, film coated - Oral, Capsule, extended release - Oral, Capsule, extended release, Capsule - Oral, Capsule, Liquid - Oral, Liquid, 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 - Oral, Solution, Tablet, film coated, Tablet, film coated - Oral, Capsule, extended release - Oral, Capsule, extended release, Capsule - Oral, Capsule, Liquid - Oral, Liquid, 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 - Oral, Solution, Tablet, film coated, Tablet, film coated - Oral, Capsule, extended release - Oral, Capsule, extended release, Capsule - Oral, Capsule, Liquid - Oral, Liquid, 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 - Oral, Solution, Tablet, film coated, Tablet, film coated - Oral, Capsule, extended release - Oral, Capsule, extended release, Capsule - Oral, Capsule, Liquid - Oral, Liquid, 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 - Oral, Solution, Tablet, film coated, Tablet, film coated - Oral, Capsule, extended release - Oral, Capsule, extended release, Capsule - Oral, Capsule, Liquid - Oral, Liquid, 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 - Oral, Solution, Tablet, film coated, Tablet, film coated - Oral, Capsule, extended release - Oral, Capsule, extended release, Capsule - Oral, Capsule, Liquid - Oral, Liquid, 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 Contraindications

Condition

Risk Level

Notes

Severe Hypersensitivity Reactions

Do Not Combine

Memantine may interact with Pulse Frequency

There are 20 known major drug interactions with Namenda.

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 Risk

The 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.

image of a doctor in a lab doing drug, clinical research

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

Alzheimer's Disease

3 Actively Recruiting

Phase 3, Phase 2

Alzheimer's Disease

0 Actively Recruiting

Alzheimer's Disease

39 Actively Recruiting

Phase 4, Phase 2, Phase 3, Not Applicable, Phase 1

Dementia, Vascular

0 Actively Recruiting

Alzheimer's Disease

0 Actively Recruiting

Dementia, Vascular

0 Actively Recruiting

Namenda Reviews: What are patients saying about Namenda?

5

Patient Review

12/16/2019

Namenda for Moderate to Severe Alzheimer's Type Dementia

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.

5

Patient Review

9/3/2017

Namenda for Moderate to Severe Alzheimer's Type Dementia

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.

4.3

Patient Review

7/1/2014

Namenda for Moderate to Severe Alzheimer's Type Dementia

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).

3.3

Patient Review

6/20/2014

Namenda for Moderate to Severe Alzheimer's Type Dementia

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?

3.3

Patient Review

3/6/2014

Namenda for Moderate to Severe Alzheimer's Type Dementia

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?

2.3

Patient Review

5/11/2014

Namenda for Moderate to Severe Alzheimer's Type Dementia

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.

2

Patient Review

1/23/2015

Namenda for Moderate to Severe Alzheimer's Type Dementia

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.

1

Patient Review

3/10/2019

Namenda for Moderate to Severe Alzheimer's Type Dementia

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.
image of drug pills surrounding a glass of water symbolizing drug consumption

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

Clinical Trials for Namenda

Image of Weill Cornell Medicine Brain Health Imaging Institute in New York, United States.

Leronlimab for Alzheimer's Disease

18+
All Sexes
New York, NY

The present study will administer the drug leronlimab to 20 participants who are above 50 years old with Alzheimer's disease (AD) or mild cognitive impairment due to AD. While leronlimab is considered safe in other diseases like Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and certain types of breast cancer, its safety and tolerability in AD will be tested for the first time. The main purpose of this study is to learn: 1. Is this drug safe for participants with AD and MCI due to AD? 2. Does leronlimab change levels of brain inflammation? The results of this study could lead to future studies with more participants that will test whether leronlimab may slow or prevent the decline in thinking abilities and brain function in this group of participants. Using leronlimab for Alzheimer's disease is experimental, which means that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved Leronlimab for this purpose. Participants will be asked to take leronlimab once a week for 12 weeks in our clinic or in their own home. Participants will also be asked to complete the below procedures before and after taking leronlimab for 12 weeks: 1. Undergo 2 types of brain scans, Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). 2. Visit our clinic for routine lab work, an electrocardiogram (ECG), and a physical exam. 3. Donate blood so the researchers can better understand how leronlimab affects levels of inflammation and proteins related AD in the blood. 4. Undergo a series of tests and questionnaires that test thinking abilities. 5. Have weekly phone calls with researchers to let them know if there are side effects will taking this drug.

Phase 2
Recruiting

Weill Cornell Medicine Brain Health Imaging Institute

Tracy A Butler, MD

Image of The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research in Manhasset, United States.

WeCareToFeedDysphagia Tool for Caregiver Burden in Dementia

18+
All Sexes
Manhasset, NY

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if a newly-created website tool, called WeCareToFeedDysphagia, helps to reduce feelings of burden in care partners of patients with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (AD/ADRD) who were diagnosed with trouble swallowing (oropharyngeal dysphagia). The main questions this study aims to answer are: * How effective is the WeCareToFeedDysphagia tool in reducing feelings of burden in care partners? * Does the WeCareToFeed Dysphagia tool help improve patient outcomes? * Does care partner age, gender, and patient dysphagia severity impact the strength of the effect of the WeCareToFeedDysphagia tool? * Is the strength of the effect of the WeCareToFeedDysphagia tool impacted by care partner's beliefs in being able to manage behavior and stress (self-efficacy)? Researchers will compare a group of care partners who have access to the WeCareToFeedDysphagia tool (intervention) to a group of care partners who do not have access to the tool. Both groups will receive contact information for help from a speech language pathologist expert (enhanced usual care). Participants will: * be given access to the web tool and receive 3 text message reminders over 3 weeks to use the tool (intervention group only). * be asked to complete a remote, web-based survey three times: when enrolled in the study, at 1 month following patient leaving the hospital, and at 3 months following patient leaving the hospital.

Waitlist Available
Has No Placebo

The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research

Liron Sinvani, MD

Image of CSMC in Los Angeles, United States.

Photobiomodulation for Alzheimer's Disease

55 - 89
All Sexes
Los Angeles, CA

The purpose of this study is to see if a special light treatment, called photobiomodulation, can help people with memory problems such as Mild Cognitive Impairment or Mild Dementia due to Alzheimer's disease. The light is given to the forehead using an FDA-cleared medical device. This device is cleared to provide topical heating to elevate tissue temperature for temporary relief of muscle and joint pain, muscle spasm and stiffness associated with arthritis. It also increases blood circulation and relaxes muscle tissue. This device is being used "off-label," meaning it will be used in a way that is different than its cleared use. We want to learn whether this light treatment can improve executive function, and whether it changes certain inflammatory and neurodegeneration related signals in the blood. To do this, we will apply the photobiomodulation device to your forehead. We will also ask you questions and give you cognitive tests before and after light treatment. We will also collect blood samples before and after treatment.

Recruiting
Device

CSMC

Golnaz Yadollahikhales, MD

Have you considered Namenda clinical trials?

We made a collection of clinical trials featuring Namenda, we think they might fit your search criteria.
Go to Trials

Have you considered Namenda clinical trials?

We made a collection of clinical trials featuring Namenda, we think they might fit your search criteria.
Go to Trials

Have you considered Namenda clinical trials?

We made a collection of clinical trials featuring Namenda, we think they might fit your search criteria.
Go to Trials