What Is Memantine?
Memantine helps to reduce the action of the brain's chemicals, which may cause symptoms of Alzheimer's disease.Memantine is a medication used for the treatment of moderate or severe symptoms of dementia of the Alzheimer's kind.Memantine can also be employed for other purposes that are not covered in this medication guide.
Side effects Of Memantine
Contact a medical professional immediately in the event that you exhibit symptoms warning signs of an allergic reaction, such as hives, breathing difficulties, or swelling of your lips, face, or tongue.
Memantine may cause serious side effects
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Get in touch with your doctor right away in the event you suffer from:
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Extreme headache severe headache, blurred vision, or pain in your neck or ear;
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Seizure (convulsions);
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Strange change in behavior or mood.
Common side effects of memantine could include:
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Diarrhea;
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Dizziness;
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Headache.
This isn't a complete list of all the side effects. Other side effects could be present. Consult your physician for advice regarding medical effects. You can report any side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Warnings
Follow all the instructions on the label of your medication and on the label of your package. Inform your health care providers about your medical issues, allergies, and the medicines you are taking.
Before you Take this Drug
It is best not to use memantine if you are allergic to it.
To ensure memantine is not harmful to you, inform your doctor whether you suffer from:
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Epilepsy or another seizure;
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Liver disease;
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Kidney disease;
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Urination issues and
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A bladder or kidney infection.
Memantine should not be thought to harm an unborn baby. Consult your physician if you are expecting or planning to become pregnant.
It isn't known if memantine gets into breast milk or if it is harmful to the nursing infant. Consult your physician if you are breastfeeding a child.
How to take Memantine?
Follow all the instructions on the prescription label. Your doctor may change the dosage to ensure you receive the most effective outcomes. Don't take this medication in greater or lesser doses or for longer periods than prescribed.Memantine can be consumed with or without meals.Don't crush, chew, break, open, or crack the extended-release capsule. Inhale it completely.
To help you swallow To make swallowing easier, you can open the extended-release capsule and mix the medication into one spoonful of applesauce. Take it in right away, without chewing. Do not store the mixture for use later.
Take measurements of liquid medicines (oral solutions) with the dosing needle supplied or using an appropriate dose-measuring spoon or medicine cup. If you do not own an instrument to measure doses, request one from your pharmacist.Don't mix your oral solution with other liquids.Clean the empty syringe in clean water and let it air dry following each use.
Take memantine every day to get maximum benefits. Make sure you refill your prescription prior to running out of medication completely.Your doctor will monitor your progress while you're using memantine.
Memantine should be stored at room temperature, free of heat and moisture. Keep the bottle of liquid medicine tightly shut with the cap that is provided. Don't store the bottle without the oral syringe inside it.Check all the information about your patient, including medication guides and instructions provided to you. Talk to your pharmacist or doctor for assistance if you have concerns.
Details on Dosage
Usual Adult Dose for Alzheimer's Disease:
IMMEDIATE-RELEASE:
The first week: five mg taken orally daily, at least once.
Week 2, 10 mg taken orally per day (administer 5 mg two times every day).
Week 3, 15 mg daily orally (administer five mg as well as 10 mg in distinct doses).
The dose for Week 4, Maintenance, is 20 mg daily orally (administrate 10 mg two times each day).
EXTENDED-RELEASE:
Initial Dose: 7 mg taken orally every day, once.
Maintenance and Maximum Dose: 28 mg once orally, every day. Increase the dose initially by 7 mg increments until the recommended dose for maintenance is reached.
Comments: The recommended minimum period between dosage increases should be one week. only increase the dose if the prior dose was easily tolerated.
Treatment: Treatment for mild to severe Alzheimer's type
What Happens If I Miss a Dose?
You should take the missed dose as quickly as you can remember. Avoid your missed dose if you are close to the time of the next dose.
Do not take additional medication to compensate for missing doses.
If you do not take your dose or don't remember to take your medication for a number of days, you should call your doctor prior to taking the medication again.
What Happens If I Overdose?
For medical emergencies, seek emergency medical attention or contact the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.
What Should be Avoided?
Memantine can trigger side effects that could affect your reactions or thinking. Be cautious if you drive or engage in any activity that requires you to be alert as well as awake.
Interaction with Other Drugs
Inform your doctor about all the medicines you are currently taking and any new medications you begin or stop using, in particular:
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Amantadine;
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Zonisamide;
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Cough medicine that has the ingredient dextromethorphan (Delsym, Robitussin Maximum Strength, Vicks 44, and others);
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Remedies to make the urine alkaline, such as sodium bicarbonate in the urine, potassium citrate (K-Lyte, Urocit-K, K-Lyte), salt citrate along with citric acid (Bicitra, Oracit), or sodium citrate and potassium (Citrolith, Polycitra),
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Medicines to treat the condition of glaucoma, or pressure that is increased inside the eyes: acetazolamide and methazolamide.
This list isn't exhaustive. Other drugs can be incompatible with memantine, such as medications that are prescribed and available over the counter, vitamins, and herbal products. There are not all the interactions mentioned in this medication guide.
