Memantine - Benefits, dosage and side effects

Memantine is a medication to reduce the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. Memantine can not cure, but only slows the progression of symptoms of Alzheimer's disease.

Memantine works by blocking a brain chemical called glutamate. This substance is associated with the onset of symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. Memantine is used to treat moderate to severe dementia in people with Alzheimer's disease.

memantine trademark: Abixa, Nemdatine

What is Memantine

group	Drugs for neurodegeneration
Category	Prescription drugs
Benefit	Reduces symptoms of Alzheimer's disease
Consumed by	Mature
Memantine for pregnant and lactating women	Category B: Animal studies have not shown any risk to the fetus, but there are no controlled studies in pregnant women. It is not known whether memantine can be absorbed into breast milk or not. If you are breastfeeding, do not use this medicine without telling your doctor.
Drug form	Film-coated tablets

Warning Before Taking Memantine

Memantine should not be consumed carelessly. Before taking this drug, you need to pay attention to the following:

Do not take memantine if you are allergic to this drug.
Tell your doctor if you have a history of heart disease, eye disease, seizures, kidney or liver problems.
Do not drive, use machinery, or perform activities that require alertness after taking memantine, as this medicine may make you dizzy or drowsy.
Tell your doctor if you are taking certain medications, supplements, or herbal products.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning a pregnancy.
See your doctor right away if you have an allergic reaction to the drug, a serious side effect, or an overdose after taking memantine.

Dosage and Instructions for Use Memantine

Memantine should only be used as prescribed by a doctor. The initial dose of memantine is 5 mg, once daily, in the first week. The dose may be increased by 5 mg weekly, up to a maximum dose of 20 mg daily.

How to Consume Memantine Correctly

Follow the doctor's advice and read the information listed on the medicine package before starting to take memantine.

Memantine can be taken before or after meals. Take memantine regularly at the same time every day. If your condition worsens after taking memantine, contact your doctor immediately.

Store memantine in a place away from direct sunlight, humidity, or heat. Keep out of reach of children.

Interactions of Memantine with Other Drugs

Memantine can cause drug interactions when used with other medicines. The following are some of the possible drug interactions:

Decreases the effect of phenobarbital or antipsychotic drugs
Increased risk of memantine side effects when used with amantadine, dextromethorpan, tafenaquine, or ketamine
Increases the effect of levodopa, dopamine, or anticholinergics, such as chlorpheniramine
Decreased kidney function in removing memantine when used with sodium bicarbonate or carbonic anhydrase inhibitor drugs, such as acetazolamide
Increases blood levels of cimetidine, ranitidine, procainamide, or quinine
Lowering the level of hydrochlorothiazide in the blood
Interfere with the effects of antispasmodic drugs, such as papaverine

Side Effects and Dangers of Memantine

Side effects that can arise after taking memantine are:

Cough
Back pain
Throw up
Headache
Constipation
Dizzy
Diarrhea
Hard to sleep

Consult a doctor if the above side effects do not subside immediately or get worse. You need to see a doctor immediately if you experience an allergic drug reaction or serious side effects that are rare, such as: