Memantine oral tablet side effects: A detailed guide

This article describes possible side effects of memantine oral tablet. You’ll also find information on cost savings and coupon options for memantine. You can explore this overview article to learn more about memantine, including the drug’s uses, side effects, ways to save on cost, and more.

Memantine oral tablet is a generic version of the brand-name drug Namenda. Memantine also comes in an extended-release (ER) capsule, but this form isn’t described in this article. (ER means the drug is slowly released into your body over a long period of time.) To learn more about this form, talk with your doctor.

More common side effects of memantine

Memantine oral tablet may cause mild or serious side effects. Below are some of the more common side effects of this medication.

Commonly reported side effects of memantine oral tablet include:

• cough
• dizziness
• headache
• confusion*

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of memantine in detail” section below.

Mild side effects of memantine

Memantine oral tablet may cause certain mild side effects. Most often, mild side effects are temporary and can be easily managed. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have side effects that don’t go away or become bothersome.

Mild side effects of memantine oral tablet that occurred in studies include:

• confusion*
• constipation
• cough
• dizziness
• headache
• fatigue (lack of energy)
• pain, such as in your back
• shortness of breath
• sleepiness
• vomiting
• mild allergic reaction†

Memantine oral tablet may cause more mild side effects than those listed above. For details, see the drug’s prescribing information.

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of memantine in detail” section below.
† An allergic reaction is possible with memantine oral tablet. It wasn’t reported in the drug’s studies but has happened since the drug was approved for use.

Serious side effects of memantine

Memantine may cause certain serious side effects. If you have any serious side effects from memantine oral tablet, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency or your side effects feel life threatening, take immediate action. Call 911 or a local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room.

After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Visit MedWatch’s website if you’d like to notify the FDA about a side effect you’ve had with memantine oral tablet.

Serious side effects of memantine oral tablet that occurred in studies include:

• high blood pressure
• hallucination*
• Stevens-Johnson syndrome*
• severe allergic reaction†

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of memantine in detail” section below.
† An allergic reaction is possible with memantine oral tablet. It wasn’t reported in the drug’s studies but has happened since the drug was approved for use.

Common questions about side effects of memantine

Here are answers to some common questions about side effects of memantine oral tablet. If you have other questions, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Can memantine make dementia worse?

It’s hard to say.

It’s important to keep in mind that dementia is a progressive condition. This means it will get worse over time, even with treatment. Medications such as memantine are prescribed to help slow this progression.

This makes it difficult to say for certain that a medication such as memantine worsens dementia.

”Worsened dementia” isn’t a side effect reported in studies of memantine. But there were rare reports of confusion and hallucination. Confusion and hallucination can also be symptoms of dementia. So it’s possible for memantine to worsen these symptoms, or cause these symptoms to appear in someone who previously didn’t experience them.

Talk with your doctor to learn more about how they’ll monitor whether memantine is working for you. To learn more about confusion and hallucination caused by memantine, see the ”Side effects of memantine in detail” section in this article.

Does memantine cause long-term side effects?

No, memantine oral tablet doesn’t seem to cause long-term side effects. In studies, specific side effects weren’t seen in people who had taken the drug for a long time. Long lasting side effects after treatment ended also weren’t reported.

Talk with your doctor if you have questions about possible long-term side effects with memantine.

Coupon for memantine

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Side effects of memantine in detail

Below you’ll find details on some of the side effects of memantine oral tablet.

Confusion

In studies, confusion was a common side effect compared to other side effects in people taking memantine oral tablet. However, most people who took memantine in these studies did not have confusion. This side effect may be mild or serious.

With confusion, you experience difficulty thinking clearly. You may feel disoriented and unable to focus or make decisions.

Ways to manage

If you experience symptoms of confusion, tell your doctor. They can discuss your symptoms with you. Keep in mind that dementia (the condition memantine is prescribed to treat) can also cause confusion. But it’s important to note that confusion related to dementia may not go away. Stopping treatment with memantine may help if you and your doctor think the drug is contributing to symptoms.

Hallucination

In studies, hallucination was rare in people taking memantine oral tablet. This side effect may be serious.

With hallucination, you experience things related to your senses that aren’t actually real. Symptoms can include seeing or hearing things that aren’t actually there.

Ways to manage

If you experience hallucinations, tell your doctor. They’ll likely recommend stopping treatment with memantine and exploring other treatments for dementia.

Stevens-Johnson syndrome

Stevens-Johnson syndrome wasn’t reported in studies of memantine but has happened since the drug was approved. This side effect is life threatening and must be treated immediately.

With Stevens-Johnson syndrome, a blistering skin rash causes your skin to loosen and detach. The rash appears with pink, red, purple, or discolored spots, which may be slightly raised.

The rash usually starts on the face and chest. It can also affect other areas, such as the mouth, lips, and eyes, among others. Other symptoms include discomfort, fever, and muscle aches.

Ways to manage

If you think you’re having symptoms of Stevens-Johnson syndrome, immediately call 911 or go to the closest hospital. This condition is life threatening and must be treated right away. If you have Stevens-Johnson syndrome as a side effect from taking memantine, your doctor will likely stop treatment with memantine.

Allergic reaction

For some people, memantine oral tablet can cause an allergic reaction.

This side effect wasn’t reported in the drug’s studies but has happened since it was approved for use.

Symptoms can be mild or serious, and they may include:

• itchiness
• skin rash
• swelling under the skin, usually affecting eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
• swelling of the mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe
• flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)

Ways to manage

For mild allergic reaction symptoms, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may recommend treatments to help manage your symptoms. They’ll also let you know whether you should keep taking the medication.

For severe allergic reaction symptoms, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms require immediate medical care because they can become life threatening. If you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to memantine oral tablet, your doctor may recommend taking a different medication instead.

Warnings for memantine

Below are some factors you may want to discuss with your doctor before taking memantine oral tablet.

Warnings

It may not be safe for you to take memantine oral tablet if you have specific health conditions. These are sometimes called drug-condition interactions. Other things may also affect whether memantine oral tablet is a safe treatment option for you.

Before taking memantine oral tablet, tell your doctor about your health and medications you take. Things to consider include:

• epilepsy or seizures
• bladder problems, such as urinary retention
• kidney conditions, such as chronic kidney disease
• liver conditions, such as liver cirrhosis
• past allergic reaction to memantine

Memantine and pregnancy

It’s not known whether memantine oral tablet should be taken during pregnancy. If you’re planning a pregnancy or can become pregnant, talk with your doctor before taking this medication.

Memantine and breastfeeding

It’s not known whether memantine oral tablet should be taken while breastfeeding. If you’re currently breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before taking this medication.

Memantine and alcohol

Memantine oral tablet is not known to interact with alcohol.

However, if you have certain side effects from memantine, drinking alcohol could worsen them. These side effects include confusion, vomiting, and fatigue (lack of energy).

If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about whether it’s safe to consume it during your treatment with memantine oral tablet.

What to ask your doctor

This article describes common and serious side effects of memantine oral tablet. If your doctor prescribes this medication, they can discuss possible side effects with you. Let your doctor know if you have concerns or questions about treatment with this medication.

Here’s a list of some possible questions you may want to ask your doctor:

• How will I be monitored for side effects while taking memantine?
• Do other medications I take interact with memantine and raise my risk of side effects?
• If I have side effects from memantine, but the drug is working well for my condition, can you prescribe a lower dose for me to try?

Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.