Memantine, Memantine ER, Memantine Titration Pak

Introduction

Written by Helen Marshall BPharm, MRPharmS
Medically reviewed by Dena Westphalen, PharmD
Updated on July 31, 2023

Memantine (me MAN teen) is a generic medication prescribed for dementia caused by Alzheimer’s disease. Memantine belongs to a group of drugs called NMDA receptor antagonists.

This article doesn’t provide coupons for all forms of memantine. To find coupons for memantine extended-release oral capsule, see this article.

Side effects of memantine

Memantine may cause mild or serious side effects. More common mild side effects of memantine and its serious side effects are listed below. This article doesn’t include all possible side effects of the drug. Side effects can vary based on your age, overall health, and any other medications you take.

To learn more about memantine’s side effects, ask your doctor or pharmacist. You can also refer to the prescribing information for memantine listed in the “Resources” section.

Mild side effects

More common mild side effects reported with some forms of memantine are listed below. These side effects may differ based on the form of memantine you take.

This article doesn’t include all possible mild side effects of the drug. To learn more about memantine’s side effects based on the form, refer to the prescribing information for memantine listed in the “Resources” section.

With many drugs, mild side effects may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. If the side effects are bothersome, tell your doctor or pharmacist. They may be able to suggest ways to manage them.

Memantine oral tablet’s mild side effects include:

• dizziness
• headache
• constipation
• confusion
• mild allergic reaction*

Memantine extended-release (ER)* oral capsule’s mild side effects include:

• dizziness
• headache
• diarrhea
• mild allergic reaction†

* ER capsules release the medication into your body slowly over time instead of all at once.
† For details about this side effect, see the “Interactions and warnings for memantine” section.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects of memantine are listed below. These side effects may differ based on the form of memantine you take.

This article doesn’t include all possible serious side effects of the drug. To learn more about memantine’s side effects based on the form, refer to the prescribing information for memantine listed in the “Resources” section.

With many drugs, serious side effects are possible but not common. If you have serious side effects from this drug, call your doctor right away. If you’re having severe symptoms or a medical emergency, call 911 or a local emergency number.

In general, memantine’s serious side effects include:

• high blood pressure
• heart failure
• inflammation of the liver
• inflammation of the pancreas
• mental health problems, such as hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not really there), depression, or suicidal thoughts
• severe allergic reaction*

* For details about this side effect, see the “Interactions and warnings for memantine” section.

Suicide prevention

If you or someone you know is in crisis and considering suicide or self-harm, please seek support:

• Call the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.
• Text HOME to the Crisis Textline at 741741.
• Not in the United States? Find a helpline in your country with Befrienders Worldwide.
• Call 911 or your local emergency services number if you feel safe to do so.

If you’re calling on behalf of someone else, stay with them until help arrives. You may remove weapons or substances that can cause harm if you can do so safely.

If you are not in the same household, stay on the phone with them until help arrives.

Common questions about memantine

Below you’ll find answers to a few commonly asked questions about memantine.

What brand names are available for memantine?

Memantine is a generic medication. The brand-name version of memantine oral tablet and oral solution is called Namenda. The brand-name version of memantine extended-release (ER) oral capsule is called Namenda XR. (ER capsules release the medication into your body slowly over time instead of all at once.)

A generic medication is an identical copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. (An active drug is the ingredient that makes a medication work.) Generics usually cost less than brand-name drugs. And they’re thought to be as safe and effective as the brand-name versions.

If you’re interested in taking the brand-name version of memantine, talk with your doctor.

How does memantine work? And how long does it take to start working?

Memantine is used to treat dementia caused by Alzheimer’s disease. Its mechanism of action (how it works) is to target one of the brain changes thought to be involved in causing Alzheimer’s dementia.

With Alzheimer’s disease, you have higher than usual levels of a chemical called glutamate in your brain. Glutamate helps pass messages between nerve cells in your brain. But high levels of glutamate can damage the nerve cells. This can lead to problems with thinking, memory, and doing daily tasks.

Memantine blocks the harmful effect of too much glutamate on the nerve cells in your brain. It helps improve your ability to think, remember, and carry out daily tasks. It may also slow the worsening of dementia.

Memantine starts working soon after you start taking it. But it may take a few weeks or longer before you notice relief from your symptoms.

If you’d like to know more about this, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Is memantine similar to donepezil?

Memantine and donepezil (Aricept) are both used to treat Alzheimer’s disease. But donepezil works in a different way than memantine. And it can cause different side effects.

Doctors may sometimes prescribe memantine with donepezil to treat Alzheimer’s disease. In fact, this combination is available as the brand-name drug Namzaric.

To learn more about how donepezil compares with memantine, talk with your doctor.

Uses of memantine

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves prescription drugs such as memantine for certain conditions. Approved uses for memantine are described below.

Use for dementia

Doctors may prescribe memantine oral tablet, oral solution, or extended-release (ER)* oral capsule for treating moderate to severe dementia caused by Alzheimer’s disease. It’s used for this purpose in adults. It’s usually prescribed as a long-term treatment.

With Alzheimer’s disease, various changes in your brain lead to dementia that gets progressively worse. With dementia, you have trouble remembering, thinking, understanding, communicating, and carrying out your usual daily activities.

Memantine helps improve your brain function, memory, and ability to carry out daily tasks. It may also slow the worsening of your dementia. However, memantine can’t cure Alzheimer’s disease. Dementia gets gradually worse over time, even with memantine treatment.

* ER capsules release the medication into your body slowly over time instead of all at once.

Interactions and warnings for memantine

Below you’ll find information about memantine’s possible interactions and warnings.

Interactions of memantine

Certain things may affect how a drug works. These include getting vaccines, consuming alcohol or certain foods, or taking the drug with other medications. This effect is called a drug interaction.

Before you take memantine, ask your doctor to check for possible interactions. Be sure to tell them about any of the following you take or use:

• prescription or over-the-counter drugs
• vitamins, herbs, or supplements

To learn about drug-condition interactions, see the “Warnings for memantine” section below.

Warnings for memantine

Some people should not take memantine, and others should take it cautiously.

Memantine could cause harm to people with certain health conditions. This effect is called a drug-condition interaction. Other factors can also affect whether memantine is a safe option for you. These warnings may differ based on the form of memantine you take.

Ask your doctor about specific warnings for memantine, and be sure to tell your doctor about your:

• current health, including any allergies to medications
• past health conditions or surgeries

Allergic reaction

Memantine can cause an allergic reaction in some people. Severe allergic reactions are rare but possible.

If you’ve had an allergic reaction to memantine or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe memantine. They can tell you about medications that are safer options for you.

A mild allergic reaction may cause the following symptoms:

• skin rash
• itchiness
• flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)

A severe allergic reaction may cause the following symptoms:

• swelling under your skin, usually in your hands, feet, eyelids, or lips
• swelling of your mouth, throat, or tongue, which can cause breathing problems

If you have an allergic reaction to memantine, call your doctor right away. If you have severe symptoms, call 911 or a local emergency number.

Overdose of memantine

You should not take more memantine than your doctor prescribes. For some drugs, doing so may lead to harmful effects or overdose.

If you think you’ve taken too much memantine, call your doctor or pharmacist right away. Or you could call 800-222-1222 to speak with someone at America’s Poison Centers. You can also use its online resource. If you have concerning symptoms, call 911 or a local emergency number immediately. You can also go to the closest emergency room.

Pregnancy or breastfeeding and memantine

Information about memantine and pregnancy and breastfeeding is described below.

Memantine and pregnancy

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

What to ask your doctor

Let your doctor know if you have questions about memantine or would like more details about it.

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

• Can memantine help treat early onset Alzheimer’s disease?
• Can memantine be used to treat types of dementia other than dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease?
• Does memantine interact with blood thinners?
• How long is memantine likely to work for?

Resources

• Food and Drug Administration. (2023). Orange Book: Approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence evaluations. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/ob/index.cfm
•  Memantine hydrochloride capsule, extended release. (2021). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/92bf7ecd-5da0-4622-b7f5-562600ca29fe/spl-doc
• Memantine hydrochloride oral solution, for oral use. (2022). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/a7b76864-6de7-45f6-be5b-5ecfca811627/spl-doc
• Memantine hydrochloride tablets, for oral use. (2021). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/d1c2ec99-7183-46e3-a96e-4f23e20b8b06/spl-doc

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.