Table of contents:
- What Medicine Memantine?
- What is memantine for?
- How do you use memantine medicine?
- How to store memantine?
- Memantine dosage
- What is the dosage for memantine for adults?
- What is the dosage of memantine for children?
- In what dosage is memantine available?
- Memantine side effects
- What are the side effects of memantine medicine?
- Memantine Medicine Warnings and Cautions
- What should be known before using Memantine?
- Is memantine safe for pregnant and lactating women?
- Memantine Drug Interactions
- What drugs may interact with memantine?
- Can food or alcohol interact with memantine?
- What health conditions can interact with memantine?
- Memantine overdose
- What should I do in an emergency or overdose?
- What should I do if I miss a dose?
What Medicine Memantine?
What is memantine for?
Memantine is a drug used to relieve symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, such as dementia, aka dementia. Alzheimer's itself is a disease that affects brain function.
This disease causes sufferers to experience a decrease in memory, thinking ability, and changes in behavior in carrying out daily life. Generally, this disease is experienced by the elderly (elderly). Even so, young people can also experience this disease, either due to brain disorders or injuries.
This drug works by blocking the chemical glutamate in the brain. These substances are considered to be the culprit for tissue damage in the brain which ultimately leads to the appearance of symptoms of Azheimer's disease.
How do you use memantine medicine?
This medicine can be taken before or after meals. Ask your doctor when is the best time to consume it.
Swallow the drug whole with a glass of water to make it easier to swallow. It is not recommended that you crush, grind, or crush the drug, as this can decrease its effectiveness and lead to side effects.
The dose of the drug is usually adjusted according to the health condition and the patient's response to treatment. Therefore, the dosage of the drug for each person can be different. Do not give this medicine to other people even if they have the same symptoms as you.
Your doctor may change the dose of the drug periodically. Because, usually the doctor will prescribe the lowest dose and will slowly increase it. Follow the doctor's instructions carefully.
If the doctor gives the drug in the form of a drinking liquid, use a medicine syringe, glass, or measuring spoon that is usually available in the medicine package. Do not use a regular tablespoon or glass, as the dosage can be different.
It is also not recommended that you mix the drug with water or other liquids. Wash the syringe with water after each use.
Use this medication at the same time every day so that you get maximum benefits. To make it easier for you to remember, make notes in a special book or reminders on your cell phone.
Basically, take any type of medication as recommended by your doctor or stated on the drug packaging label. Do not add, subtract, or take more medication than your doctor prescribes. If you don't really understand how to use it, don't hesitate to ask directly to a doctor or pharmacist.
How to store memantine?
This medication is best stored at room temperature, away from direct light and damp places.
Don't keep it in the bathroom. Don't freeze it. Other brands of this drug may have different storage rules.
Observe the storage instructions on the product package or ask your pharmacist. Keep all medicines away from children and pets.
Do not flush medicines down the toilet or down the drain unless instructed to do so. Discard the medicine when it has expired or when it is no longer needed.
Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company about how to safely dispose of your product.
Memantine dosage
The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting treatment.
What is the dosage for memantine for adults?
The starting dose in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, 5 milligrams (mg) taken by mouth once daily in the morning, in the first week. The dose can be increased to 5 mg each week, up to a maximum of 10 mg twice daily. Doses greater than 5 mg are given in two divided doses.
The dosage for each person may be different. The dosage of drugs is usually adjusted according to the patient's age, overall health condition, and their response to treatment.
Be sure to always consult a doctor or pharmacist before taking any type of medication. This is to ensure that you are taking the drug according to the recommended dosage.
What is the dosage of memantine for children?
There is no definite dosage requirement for children. The dosage of drugs for children is usually adjusted according to their weight, health condition, and their response to treatment.
This drug can be dangerous for children if used improperly. Therefore, consult your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
In what dosage is memantine available?
This drug is available in tablet form with a strength of 5 mg and 10 grams. It is also available as an oral solution with a strength of 2 mg / ml.
Memantine side effects
What are the side effects of memantine medicine?
Basically, each drug has the potential to cause side effects from mild to severe. However, not everyone will experience these side effects.
Some of the most common side effects that people complain about when taking this drug include:
- Nausea
- Gag
- Sleepy
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Decreased appetite
- Lightheadedness
- The body feels very tired
- Heart palpitations
- Urinating frequently
- Joint and muscle pain
- Restless
Severe allergic reactions as a result of using this medicine are reported to be very rare. Even so, go to a doctor immediately or seek immediate medical attention if you or those around you experience a number of serious allergic reactions such as:
- Itching all over the body
- Red rash
- Swelling of the face, tongue and throat
- Severe headache
- Difficulty breathing
You should also stop taking this drug immediately and go to the doctor if you experience side effects such as:
- Chronic cough that is prolonged
- Chest tightness
- Difficulty breathing
- High fever
- Heart beating fast
- Dazed
- Hallucinating
- Sudden numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the body
- Gait that is not normal than usual
- Fainting or convulsions
- Pale skin
- Bruising or bleeding easily
- The body is weak and not strong
There may be some side effects not listed above. If you want to know about side effects, consult your doctor or pharmacist.
Memantine Medicine Warnings and Cautions
What should be known before using Memantine?
Before using memantine, tell your doctor (and pharmacist) if you:
- Allergy to memantine, other drugs, or any ingredient in the tablets, capsules, and oral solutions contained in the drug. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about the list of ingredients that make up the drug.
- Are or will be regularly taking medication. Whether it's prescription drugs, non-prescription, nutritional supplements, and herbal products.
- Have or are currently experiencing urinary tract infections.
- Have had or are having seizures, difficulty urinating, or have impaired kidney and liver function.
- Are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. It is not yet known whether this drug is safe to drink for pregnant or breastfeeding women. Therefore, you should tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.
- Will have surgery, including dental surgery.
This medicine may cause drowsiness and lightheadedness. Therefore, you should not force yourself to drive or operate heavy equipment until the medicinal effects have completely disappeared.
The other most common side effects are stomach upset and diarrhea. If you experience both side effects for more than 3 days, go to a doctor immediately.
In essence, don't hesitate to check with your doctor every time you feel something strange or unusual about your own body.
In addition, be sure to follow all doctor's advice and / or therapist's instructions. Your doctor may need to change your medication dose or monitor you carefully to prevent certain side effects.
Is memantine safe for pregnant and lactating women?
There are no adequate studies regarding the risks of using this drug in pregnant or breastfeeding women. Always consult your doctor to weigh the potential benefits and risks before using this medication.
This drug is included in the risk of pregnancy category B according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States, or the equivalent of the Food and Drug Administration (BPOM) in Indonesia.
The following references the pregnancy risk categories according to the FDA:
- A = Not at risk
- B = No risk in several studies
- C = May be risky
- D = There is positive evidence of risk
- X = Contraindicated
- N = Unknown
Meanwhile, for breastfeeding mothers, there is no clear evidence whether this drug harms the baby or not. To avoid various negative possibilities, do not take this medicine carelessly or without the doctor's permission.
Memantine Drug Interactions
What drugs may interact with memantine?
Drug interactions may change how medications work or increase the risk of serious side effects. This article does not contain all possible drug interactions.
Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescription / nonprescription drugs and herbal products) and tell your doctor and pharmacist about it.
Do not start, stop, or change your dose without your doctor's approval.
A number of drugs that have the potential to interact negatively with this drug include:
- Acrivastine
- Amitriptyline
- Amoxapine
- Aripiprazole
- Asenapine
- Atropine
- Azatadine
- Belladonna
- Benztropine
- Biperiden
- Brexpiprazole
- Brompheniramine
- Carbinoxamine
- Cariprazine
- Chlorcyclizine
- Chlorpheniramine
- Chlorpromazine
- Clemastine
- Clidinium
- Clomipramine
- Clozapine
- Cyclizine
- Cyclobenzaprine
- Cyproheptadine
- Nortriptyline
- Olanzapine
- Orphenadrine
- Oxybutynin
- Paliperidone
- Perphenazine
- Phenindamine
- Pimozide
Can food or alcohol interact with memantine?
Certain drugs cannot be used with meals or when eating certain foods because drug interactions can occur.
Consuming alcohol or tobacco with certain drugs can also cause interactions to occur.
Discuss with a healthcare professional about using drugs with food, alcohol, or cigarettes.
What health conditions can interact with memantine?
The presence of other drug problems may affect the use of this drug. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
- Epilepsy or seizures
- Urinary tract problems (for example, bladder problems, difficulty urinating)
- Kidney illness
- Liver disease
Memantine overdose
What should I do in an emergency or overdose?
In case of an emergency or overdose, contact the local emergency services provider (119) or immediately to the nearest hospital emergency department. Bring a medicine box, container, or label with you when you go to the hospital to help the doctor with any necessary information.
When someone has an overdose, various symptoms that may arise are:
- Too low blood pressure (hypotension) which makes the head dizzy
- Fainting
- Fast and irregular heartbeat
- Slower than normal heart rate
What should I do if I miss a dose?
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your dosing schedule. Do not use extra doses to make up for a missed dose.
If you continue to miss doses, consider setting an alarm or asking a family member to remind you.
Please consult your doctor to discuss changes in your dosing schedule or a new schedule to make up for a missed dose, if you have missed too many doses recently.
Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
