Classes
DEA Class; Rx
Common Brand Names; Namenda XR, Namenda
- NMDA Antagonists
Description
Oral N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist
For use in moderate to severe Alzheimer’s disease both as monotherapy and with donepezil; may provide small cognitive benefit in mixed dementia and dementia with Lewy bodies
Medical conditions, drugs, or foods that raise urine pH may decrease urinary elimination and increase memantine exposure, potentially increasing the risk of adverse effects
Indications
Indicated for the treatment of moderate to severe Alzheimer’s disease.
Contraindications
Hypersensitivity to memantine or components of the formulation
Adverse Effects
- Dizziness (7%)
- Confusion (6%)
- Headache (6%)
- Constipation (5%)
- Cough (4%)
- Hypertension (4%)
- Backache (3%)
- Pain (3%)
- Somnolence (3%)
- Syncope (3%)
- Vomiting (3%)
- Dyspnea (2%)
- Fatigue (2%)
- Acute renal failure
- Cerebral infarction
- Cerebrovascular accident
- Deep venous thrombosis
- Hepatitis, liver failure
- Intracranial hemorrhage
- Neuroleptic malignant syndrome
- Seizure (including grand mal)
- Stevens-Johnson syndrome
- Transient ischemic attack
Warnings
Not evaluated in patients with seizure disorder; seizures occurred in 0.2% of patients
Conditions that raise urine pH may decrease urinary elimination and increase plasma levels of memantine
Use caution in cardiovascular disease, seizure disorder, ophthalmic disease, hepatic and/or renal impairment
Pregnancy and Lactation
There are no adequate data on developmental risk associated with use; adverse developmental effects (decreased body weight, and skeletal ossification) observed in offspring of rats during pregnancy at doses associated with minimal maternal toxicity
There are no data on presence of drug in human milk, effects on breastfed infant, or on milk production
Maximum Dosage
20 mg/day PO immediate-release formulations; 28 mg/day PO extended-release formulation.
20 mg/day PO immediate-release formulations; 28 mg/day PO extended-release formulation.
Safety and efficacy have not been established.
Safety and efficacy have not been established.
Safety and efficacy have not been established.
How supplied
Memantine hydrochloride
tablet
5mg
10mg
capsule, extended-release
7mg
14mg
21mg
28mg
oral solution
2mg/mL
