Taking NAMENDA
Dosing and side effects information
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Dosing
- Side Effects
How will my loved one take NAMENDA?
If you think NAMENDA (memantine HCl) may be right for your loved one, talk to your doctor about how to begin therapy.
Taking NAMENDA:
- NAMENDA is recommended to be taken twice daily
- NAMENDA can be taken with or without food
- NAMENDA is available in in tablet and liquid form
Therapy begins at a low dose (5 mg per day) of NAMENDA and is gradually increased until the recommended target dose (10 mg, twice daily) is reached. A recommended dosing schedule for beginning NAMENDA therapy is provided below.
Recommended NAMENDA dosing schedule:
- Week 1: Starting on Day 1. Take one 5 mg tablet in the morning, each day.
- Week 2: Starting on Day 8. Take one 5 mg tablet in the morning and one 5 mg tablet at night, each day.
- Week 3: Starting on Day 15. Take one 10 mg tablet in the morning and one 5 mg tablet at night, each day.
- Week 4: Starting on Day 22. Take one 10 mg tablet in the morning and one 10 mg tablet at night, each day.
A dosing pack guides patients through the first four weeks of therapy, while dosage is gradually increased.
Once the recommended target dose of NAMENDA (10 mg, twice daily) has been reached, people taking NAMENDA can continue with that daily regimen unless instructed otherwise by their doctors. (For patients with severe renal impairment, 5 mg twice daily is the recommended dose.) As with all types of prescription medications, do not stop taking NAMENDA without first talking to a doctor.
There is no evidence that NAMENDA prevents or slows the underlying disease process in patients with Alzheimer's disease.
IMPORTANT RISK INFORMATION ABOUT NAMENDA
Who should NOT take NAMENDA?
NAMENDA should not be taken by anyone who is allergic to NAMENDA or has had a bad reaction to NAMENDA or any of its components.
What should be discussed with the healthcare provider before taking NAMENDA?
Before starting NAMENDA, talk to the healthcare provider about:
- The recommended dosing and administration of NAMENDA
- All of the patient's medical conditions, including liver and kidney problems or seizure disorders.
- NAMENDA has not been studied in patients with seizures.
- NAMENDA should be used with caution in patients with severe liver problems.
- In patients with severe kidney problems, the dose of NAMENDA may need to be reduced.
- If the patient is taking other medications (including those without a prescription), ask the healthcare provider if NAMENDA is right for the patient.
- Certain medications, changes in diet, or medical conditions may affect the amount of NAMENDA in the body and possibly increase side effects
What are the possible side effects of NAMENDA?
The most common side effects associated with NAMENDA treatment are dizziness, confusion, headache,
and constipation. This is not a complete list of side effects.
Please see full Prescribing Information.