Memantine (me-MAN-teen) is used
to treat moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease. Memantine is not a
cure for Alzheimer's disease but it can help people with the disease.
Memantine will not cure Alzheimer's disease, and it will not stop the
disease from getting worse.
This medicine is available only
with your doctor's prescription, in the following dosage forms:
Before Using This Medicine
In deciding to use a medicine,
the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it
will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For
memantine, the following should be considered:
Allergies—Tell
your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to
memantine. Also tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to
any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.
Pregnancy—Memantine
has not been studied in pregnant women. However, memantine has not been
shown to cause birth defects or other problems in animal studies.
Breast-feeding—It
is not known whether memantine passes into breast milk. Although most
medicines pass into breast milk in small amounts, many of them may be
used safely when breast feeding. Mothers who are taking this medicine
and who wish to breast feed should discuss it with their doctor.
Children—Studies
on this medicine have only been done in adult patients, and there is no
specific information comparing the use of memantine in children with
use in other age groups. This medicine is generally not used in
children.
Older
adults—This
medicine has been studied in older adults and has not been shown to
cause different side effects or problems in older people than it does
in younger adults.
Other
medical problems—The
presence of other medical problems may affect the use of memantine.
Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems,
especially:
- Kidney
disease—patients with severe kidney disease should not use
memantine, patients with mild or moderate kidney disease may need to
take a smaller amount of memantine.
- Difficult urination
- Urinary tract problems
- Urinary tract
blockage—memantine may make these conditions worse
- Epilepsy or history of
seizures—memantine may make this medical condition worse
Proper Use of This Medicine
Dosing—
The dose of memantine will be
different for different patients. Follow
your doctor's orders or the directions on the label.
The following information includes only the average doses of memantine.
If your dose is different, do
not change it unless your
doctor tells you to do so.
The number of tablets that you
take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the
number of doses you take each day and the time allowed between doses
will be determined by your doctor.
- For oral
- For treatment of
Alzheimer's disease
- Adults—To
start, take 5 mg (milligrams) once a day. Your doctor may increase your
dose gradually up to 10 mg (milligrams) twice a day.
- Children—This
medicine is not used in children
Missed
dose—
If you miss a dose of this
medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time
for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular
dosing schedule. Do not double doses.
Storage—
To store this medicine:
- Keep out of the reach of
children.
- Do not store in the
bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Heat or
moisture may cause the medicine to break down.
- Keep the medicine from
freezing. Do not refrigerate.
- Do not keep outdated
medicine or medicine no longer needed. Ask your health care
professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use. Be
sure that any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.
Precautions While Using This
Medicine
It
is very important that your healthcare professional check your progress
at regular visits to make sure
that this medicine is working properly and to check for unwanted
effects.
Side Effects of This Medicine
Side
Effects of This Medicine
Along with its needed effects,
a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these
side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical
attention.
Check
with your doctor immediately if
any of the following side effects occur:
- Less
common
- Bloating or swelling of
face, arms, hands, lower legs, or feet ; blurred
vision; dizziness ; headache; nervousness
; pounding in the ears; rapid weight
gain; slow or fast heartbeat; tingling of hands or
feet; unusual weight gain or loss
Other side effects may occur
that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go
away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. However,
check with your doctor if any of the following side effects continue or
are bothersome.
- Less
common
- Anxiety; back
pain; bladder pain; bloody or cloudy
urine; change in walking and balance; chills
; clumsiness or unsteadiness; cough producing
mucus; coughing; difficult, burning, or painful
urination; difficulty breathing; difficulty
moving; difficulty having a bowel movement (stool);
diarrhea ; discouragement; dry mouth ;
fear; feeling sad or empty ; fever;
frequent urge to urinate; general feeling of discomfort or
illness ; hyperventilation; insomnia ;
irregular heartbeats; irritability; joint
pain; loss of appetite; loss of bladder
control; loss of interest or pleasure; lower back
or side pain; muscle pain or stiffness;
nausea; nervousness; pain; pain in
joints; restlessness ; seeing, hearing, or feeling
things that are not there; shortness of breath;
sleepiness or unusual drowsiness; sore throat;
tightness in chest; tiredness; trouble
concentrating; trouble sleeping ; unusual tiredness
or weakness; vomiting; wheezing
Other side effects not listed
above may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects,
check with your doctor.
DrugListing.com - Alzheimers
