Memantine

Drug Class:	Commonly Known As:	Category:
	Ebixa

Memantine - What is it for

Memantine belongs to a class of medication known as N-Methyl-D-Aspartate (NMDA) antagonists. It is used to reduce the symptoms of moderate to severe Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia, such as:

Difficulty in remembering recent events, activities, or the names of familiar people or things
Poor concentration and judgement

It will not cure or stop the dementia from getting worse, but it may improve the ability to think in some patients and slow down the worsening of these symptoms.

Check with your healthcare professional if you are unsure why you are given this medication.

Memantine - Side Effects, Precautions, and Contraindications

What side effects can Memantine cause?

The mentioned common side effects generally affect up to 10% of patients.

Light-headedness (especially during a sudden change in posture)

Get up slowly from a sitting or lying down position to avoid falling over

Feeling tired or drowsy

Discuss with your doctor if you can take this medication at a different time of the day
Avoid driving or engaging in activities requiring concentration

Diarrhoea

Drink plenty of water to replace loss of fluids

Constipation

Drink more water (if not on fluid-restricted diet), eat more high-fibre foods, and exercise regularly
Speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you need a medication to help with your constipation

Headache

Most of the side effects listed here will improve with time. Speak to your doctor if they are bothersome, get worse or are affecting your daily life.

Rarely this medication may cause:

Confusion
Seeing or hearing things that are not present (hallucinations)
Chest pain, irregular or slow heartbeat
Severely increased heart rate or blood pressure
Severe dizziness, fainting episodes
Sudden severe headache or sudden numbness/weakness on one side of your body (signs and symptoms of stroke)
Mood changes or low mood
Seizures (fits)

The symptoms of a drug allergy include one or more of the following:

Swollen face/eyes/lips/tongue
Difficulty in breathing
Itchy skin rashes over your whole body

If you experience any of these side effects, you should stop your medication and inform your healthcare professional immediately.

Please also take note that not all possible side effects are listed above. If you have any concerns about your medication, please consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Before taking Memantine , what precautions must I follow?

You are allergic to this medication or any of the other ingredients of this medication
You are taking any other medications including over-the-counter medications, supplements, traditional Chinese medicine and herbal remedies. Some of these may affect how this medication works or cause serious drug interactions.
You have or have ever had:

Other drug allergies
Medical conditions such as:

Heart, kidney or liver disease
Eye disease
Seizures (fits)

What food or medicine must I avoid when I take Memantine ?

Avoid drinking alcohol while taking this medication as it may cause too much drowsiness.

Inform your doctor before making drastic changes to your diet. (E.g. switching from a meat-based diet to a vegetarian diet)

Memantine - Dosage and How to Use

How should Memantine be used?

Follow the instructions on your medication label and take this medication as prescribed by your doctor.
This medication may be taken with or without food.
This medication needs to be taken regularly for a few weeks before you feel its full effects. Therefore, do not stop taking this medication even if there are no signs of improvement at the beginning.
You may check with your doctor on how long you will have to be on this medication.
Do not stop taking your medication without checking with your healthcare professional.

What should I do if I miss a dose?

If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose. Then take the next dose at your usual timing. Do not take two doses to make up for the missed dose.