Namenda is the brand name for memantine, is a prescription drug used for the treatment of moderate to severe dementia in Alzheimer's disease. The medication is classified as an N-methyl-D-aspartate, or NMDA, a receptor antagonist. Namenda is an effective medication that has several positive effects. However, like all medications, it may cause negative effects on the body.
Pros
Alzheimer's disease destroys cells in the brain, which leads to memory loss and affects normal daily activities. Namenda blocks the NMDA receptors in the brain and prevents reactions that lead to cell death. This is useful in moderate to severe disease to prevent a further decline in the disease. Another advantage of Namenda is that the drug may be given with or without food, according to "Pharmacotherapy: A Pathophysiologic Approach." Namenda does not appear to have any significant drug interactions. The patient should always speak to his physician about any medications he is on.
Cons
Common negative effects that may occur with the use of Namenda include dizziness, confusion, headache and increased blood pressure. Gastrointestinal side effects include constipation, vomiting and weight loss, reports the "Drug Information Handbook." About 3 percent of patients may experience back pain, drowsiness, fatigue and cough. Patients who have seizure disorders should use this drug with caution. No dosage adjustment is needed in liver impairment, should be used cautiously. In mild to moderate kidney impairment, no dosage is necessary. Patients with severe kidney impairment require a reduction in the dose. The patient should discuss his entire medical history with a physician.
Pregnancy
Alzheimer's disease usually occurs in older patients, but may be seen in younger patients. The Alzheimer's Association states that about 500,000 people in their 30s, 40s and 50s have Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia. Pregnancy may be a concern in young patients. Namenda is pregnancy category B, which indicates that studies demonstrate no harm in animal studies without adequate studies in humans. The patient may be given the medication, but she or the person who takes care of her should follow dosing instructions as directed by a physician. It is not known if Namenda enters breast milk, so women who want to breast feed should use caution.
Overdosage
Signs and symptoms of Namenda overdose include agitation, confusion, psychosis, restlessness, lack of coordination, loss of consciousness, unresponsiveness and visual hallucination, reports RxList.com. If a patient experiences these reactions, he should receive medical care immediately.
Monitoring
Patients on Namenda should see an improvement in cognitive function and the ability to perform daily activities. The occurrence of side effects or overdose should also be monitored. The person taking care of the patient should be counseled accordingly.
References
- "Pharmacotherapy: A Pathophysiologic Approach"; Joseph T. Dipiro, Robert L. Talbert, et al.; 2008
- "Drug Information Handbook"; Charles F. Lacy, Lora L. Armstrong, et al.; 2009
- Alzheime's Association: What is Alzheimer's
- RxList.com: Namenda
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