Generic Name: memantine (meh MAN teen)
Brand Names: Namenda
Namenda : Important Information
- Before using Namenda, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have a seizure disorder, cataracts, liver or kidney disease, or a bladder or kidney infection.
- Namenda (Memantine) can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.
What is Namenda ?
- Namenda reduces the actions of chemicals in the brain that may contribute to the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease.
- Namenda is used to treat moderate to severe dementia of the Alzheimer's type.
- Namenda may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.
What to discuss before using Namenda
- Do not use Namenda if you are allergic to memantine.
- Before using Namenda, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:
- Epilepsy or other seizure disorder;
- Cataracts;
- Liver disease;
- Kidney disease; or
- A bladder or kidney infection.
- If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to use Namenda, or you may need a dosage adjustment or undergo special tests during treatment.
- FDA pregnancy category B. Namenda is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.
- It is not known whether memantine passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use Namenda without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
Namenda Dosage Method
- Namenda should be consumed exactly as per the prescription. Do not take an overdose of Namenda, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.
- Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results from this medication.
- Namenda should be taken with a full glass of water.
- Namenda (Memantine) can be taken with or without food.
- Liquid (oral) Namenda comes with patient instructions for safe and effective use. Follow these directions carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.
- Do not mix the oral Namenda solution with any other liquids.
- Rinse the empty oral syringe with clean water and allow it to air dry after every use.
- Namenda should be used regularly to get the optimum benefit. Get your prescription refilled before you run out of medicine completely.
- To avoid any harmful side effects due to the intake of Namenda, make sure you have regular check ups. Do not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor.
- Store Namenda at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Keep the liquid medicine bottle tightly closed with the cap provided. Do not store the bottle with the oral syringe in it.
Miss a dose: Problems?
- Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose of Namenda, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at your next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra dose of Namenda to make up the missed dose.
Namenda Overdose?
- Seek emergency medical attention in case you have taken an overdose of Namenda.
- Symptoms of a Namenda overdose may include restlessness, drowsiness, unusual behavior, hallucinations, feeling light-headed, or fainting.
Avoid During Treatment
- Namenda can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.
Namenda Side Effects
- Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
- Stop using Namenda and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
- Cough, chest tightness, fever, trouble breathing;
- Chest pain, fast heart rate;
- Confusion, hallucinations;
- Sudden numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the body;
- Lack of coordination;
- Fainting or seizure (convulsions);
- Urinating less than usual or not at all;
- Pale skin, easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness; or
- Increased blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision, trouble concentrating, chest pain, numbness, seizure).
- Continue taking Namenda and talk to your doctor if you experience:
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, loss of appetite;
- Dizziness, tired feeling;
- Weight loss;
- Swelling in your hands or feet;
- Fast heart rate;
- Easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness;
- Joint pain;
- Anxiety, aggression;
- Skin rash;
- Redness or swelling of or around your eyes; or
- Urinating more than usual.
- Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.
What other drugs to avoid while undergoing treatment
- Before taking Namenda, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:
- cimetidine (Tagamet);
- nicotine (Commit, Habitrol, Nicoderm, Nicotrol, Nicorette);
- ranitidine (Zantac);
- quinidine (Cardioquin, Quinadex, Quinaglute);
- sodium bicarbonate (Alka-Seltzer, baking soda antacid home remedy);
- antiviral medication such as amantadine (Symmetrel) or rimantadine (Flumadine);
- cold or cough medicine that contains dextromethorphan;
- a diuretic (water pill) such as hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ, HydroDiuril, Hyzaar, Lopressor, Vasoretic, Zestoretic) or triamterene (Dyrenium, Maxzide, Dyazide);
- medicine to treat glaucoma, such as acetazolamide (Diamox), dichlorphenamide (Daranide), or methazolamide (Neptazane, MZM, Glauctabs); or
- an oral diabetes medicine that contains metformin (such as Fortamet, Glucophage, Actoplus Met, Avanda met, Metaglip, Glucovance).
- If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to use Namenda (memantine), or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment.
- There may be other drugs not listed that can affect memantine. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.
amenda is used to reduce the actions of chemicals in the brain that leads to the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. Namenda is prescribed to treat moderate to severe dementia of the Alzheimer's type. However if you are allergic to memantine or any other drug, make sure you notify that to the doctor immediately. Patients allergic to memantine should not take Namenda drug.
Liquid (oral) Namenda should be taken as per the instructions of the doctor. Liquid Namenda should not be mixed with any other solution. To get the optimum results follow the directions specified by your physician. We recommend all our customers to disclose all their pre existing health complications, allergies etc to the doctor to facilitate a better diagnosis.
