Daily Medication Pearl: Memantine HCl (Namenda)

Article

Memantine HCl (Namenda) is indicated for the treatment of moderate to severe dementia of the Alzheimer’s type.

Medication Pearl of the Day: Memantine HCl (Namenda)

Indication: Memantine HCl(Namenda) is an N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist indicated for the treatment of moderate to severe dementia of the Alzheimer’s type.

Insight:

  • Dosing: Initial dose is 5 mg once daily. Increase dose in 5 mg increments to a maintenance dose of 10 mg twice daily. A minimum of 1 week of treatment with the previous dose should be observed before increasing the dose.
  • Dosage forms: Tablets 5 mg and 10 mg. Oral Solution 2 mg/mL.
  • Adverse events: Most common adverse reactions (≥ 5 % and greater than placebo) are dizziness, headache, confusion, and constipation.
  • Mechanism of action: Persistent activation of central nervous system NMDA receptors by the excitatory amino acid glutamate has been hypothesized to contribute to the symptomatology of Alzheimer disease. Memantine is postulated to exert its therapeutic effect through its action as a low to moderate affinity uncompetitive (open-channel) NMDA receptor antagonist, which binds preferentially to the NMDA receptor-operated cation channels.

Source: label (fda.gov)

Recent Videos
American Pharmacist Month | Image Credit: Zoran Zeremski - stock.adobe.com
Efficient healthcare supply chain management ensures timely delivery of medical supplies and medications
Pharmacy School, social media, non-traditional learning | Image Credit: Ахтем - stock.adobe.com
Children's doctor vaccinating little boy at home.
Image Credit: © jarun011 - stock.adobe.com
Image Credit: © Sweettymojidesign - stock.adobe.com
Pharmacy Deserts, Data, Analytics | Image Credit: Nikish H/peopleimages.com - stock.adobe.com
Group of doctors and nurses standing together in different poses.
Alzheimer and dementia clock drawing cognitive test -- Image credit: Jovana Milanko/Stocksy | stock.adobe.com
Pharmacy Deserts, Pharmacy Access | Image Credit Gorodenkoff - stock.adobe.com