What is memantine Namenda used for?
Memantine is used to treat the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease (AD; a brain disease that slowly destroys the memory and the ability to think, learn, communicate and handle daily activities). Memantine is in a class of medications called NMDA receptor antagonists. It works by decreasing abnormal activity in the brain.
How does Namenda make you feel?
Most Common Adverse Reactions. In double-blind placebo-controlled trials involving dementia patients, the most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥ 5% and higher than placebo) in patients treated with NAMENDA were dizziness, headache, confusion and constipation.
How quickly does Namenda work?
Studies have shown that most people taking Namenda will start to see symptoms improve within a few months of taking Namenda. In patients with mild to moderate dementia, onset of improvement can start in as early as 14 days.
When should I take Namenda?
NAMENDA can be taken with food or without food. If you forget to take one dose of NAMENDA, do not double up on the next dose. You should take only the next dose as scheduled. If you have forgotten to take NAMENDA for several days, you should not take the next dose until you talk to your doctor.
Does Namenda help vascular dementia?
Memantine, commonly prescribed in the United States under the brand name Namenda, is for people with moderate-to-severe Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia.
Can Namenda cause hallucinations?
Some side effects of Namenda are dizziness, confusion, headache, sleepiness, constipation, vomiting, pain (especially in the back), and coughing. More serious side effects are rare but include shortness of breath and hallucination.
Can Namenda be used for migraines?
Namenda 10 mg – 20 mg a day has been shown to decrease headache frequency significantly in those with chronic migraine.
What is Namenda and what are the side effects?
Namenda (memantine) reduces the actions of chemicals in the brain that may contribute to the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.
When was Namenda approved for use in Alzheimer’s disease?
Namenda (also called Memantine) was approved by the FDA in 2003 for use in people with “moderate to severe” Alzheimer’s disease or other types of dementia.
When did the FDA approve Namenda XR capsules?
NAMENDA XR (memantine hydrochloride) extended release. capsules. Initial U.S. Approval: 2003. ————————INDICATIONS AND USAGE————————-. NAMENDA XR contains memantine HCl, an NMDA receptor antagonist indicated for the treatment of moderate to severe dementia of the Alzheimer’s type.
How often should you increase the dose of Namenda?
The dose should be increased in 5 mg increments to 10 mg/day (5 mg twice daily), 15 mg/day (5 mg and 10 mg as separate doses), and 20 mg/day (10 mg twice daily). The minimum recommended interval between dose increases is one week.