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Memantine

Drug Class: Commonly Known As: Category:
Ebixa

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 - Additional Information

  • Updated on 10/31/2021 12:00:00 AM
  • Article contributed by PSS National Medication Information Workgroup PSS National Medication Information Workgroup
The information provided is not intended as medical advice. Terms of use. Information provided by SingHealth

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