Namenda memantine HCI

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. What are the benefits of Namenda?
  2. How is Namenda different from other Alzheimer's medications?
  3. How can I tell if Namenda is working?
  4. Are there side effects with Namenda?
  5. Can Namenda be taken with other medications?
  6. How do you get started on Namenda?
  7. How do you take Namenda?
  8. How long should Namenda be taken?
  9. Is Namenda covered by insurance?
What are the benefits of Namenda?
Namenda® (memantine HCl)* has been proven to treat the symptoms of moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease. In a clinical trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine, patients taking Namenda versus a placebo (sugar pill) experienced: 1
  • A slower rate of decline in thinking over time
  • A significantly higher ability to perform daily activities including doing household tasks such as taking out the garbage or cleaning the table after dinner, as well as conversing 1,2

To learn more about how Namenda has been shown to help treat the symptoms of moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease, visit Proven Benefits.

  1. Reisberg B et al. N Engl J Med. 2003
  2. Feldman H et al. Poster presented at ECNP. 2005
How is Namenda different from other Alzheimer's medications?
Namenda* works in an entirely different way than other Alzheimer's medications and is in a class of its own. 1± Namenda targets glutamate, 4 a chemical in the brain that helps with learning and memory. Abnormal glutamatergic activity in the brain may lead to Alzheimer's disease symptoms. Namenda may help improve abnormal glutamatergic activity. For more information, visit How Does Namenda Work?

± Under the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act (MMA), the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) developed Model Guidelines Version 2.0, outlining drug categories and classes that may be used by prescription drug plan in developing their formularies. The USP Guidelines were used as the classification structure for approximately 74% of formularies that were in place when the new Medicare Part D benefit became activated January 1, 2006. 2,3

  1. US Pharmacopeia. Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Model Guidelines Version 2.0: Drug Categories and Classes in Part D. Rockville, Md: United States Pharmacopeial Convention, Inc.; February 6, 2006
  2. US Pharmacopeia. Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Model Guidelines Version 2.0: Preamble. Rockville, Md: United States Pharmacopeial Convention, Inc.; February 6, 2006
  3. USP revising Medicare Model Guidelines. USP Press [newsletter]. January 2006: 1, 4
  4. Alzheimer's Association. FDA-approved treatments for Alzheimer's disease. Available at: www.alz.org/national/documents/topicsheet_treatments.pdf. Accessed on November 9, 2007
How can I tell if Namenda is working?
While there is no cure for Alzheimer's disease, the goal of treatment with Namenda*, as with all Alzheimer's medications, is to help treat the symptoms of the disease. An improvement in symptoms, or no change in symptoms, may indicate that Namenda is working. Patients taking Namenda may, for example, experience a slower rate of decline in thinking or maintain a higher ability to perform daily activities such as doing household tasks, including taking out the garbage or cleaning the table after dinner, as well as conversing. 1,2
  1. Reisberg B et al. N Engl J Med. 2003
  2. Feldman H et al. Poster presented at ECNP. 2005
Are there side effects with Namenda?
Namenda* is well tolerated by people with moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease and has a low rate of side effects. As with all medications, some patients may experience side effects. The most commonly reported side effects in patients taking Namenda include dizziness, confusion, headache and constipation. For a complete side effect profile, visit Side Effects.

Can Namenda be taken with other medications?
Yes. Many people with Alzheimer's disease take medications for other illnesses, such as diabetes and high blood pressure. Fortunately, it is safe to take Namenda* with other medications because it has a very low risk of interaction with other drugs. It is important, however, to talk to your doctor about all medications being taken – prescription and over-the-counter, as well as herbal remedies and nutritional supplements – before starting Namenda. For more information about the safety of Namenda, visit Side Effects.

How do you get started on Namenda?
Namenda* is easy to start with and easy to take. It is conveniently available in both capsule and liquid forms. Therapy begins at a low dose (5 mg per day) and is gradually increased until the target dose (10 mg, two times a day) is reached. A convenient dosing pack guides patients through the first four weeks of therapy during which dosage is gradually increased.

Once the target dose has been reached, patients taking Namenda can continue with that daily regimen unless instructed otherwise by their doctors. Visit Taking Namenda for more information.

How do you take Namenda?
Namenda* can be taken with or without food and is available in tablets and liquid, for those who have difficulty swallowing tablets or prefer liquid.

Therapy begins at a low dose (5 mg per day) and is gradually increased until the target dose (10 mg, two times a day) is reached. To be effective, Namenda must be taken correctly, according to the following schedule 1:

Namenda dosing schedule

  1. Week 1: Start on Day 1

    Take one 5 mg tablet in the morning, each day.

  2. Week 2: Start on Day 8

    Take one 5 mg tablet in the morning and one 5 mg tablet at night, each day.

  3. Week 3: Start on Day 15

    Take one 10 mg tablet in the morning and one 5 mg tablet at night, each day.

  4. Week 4: Start on Day 22

    Take one 10 mg tablet in the morning and one 10 mg tablet at night, each day.

  5. Once the target dose (10 mg, two times a day) 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 a day is the recommended dose.) 1

As with all types of prescription medication, do not stop taking Namenda without first talking to a doctor.

  1. Namenda® Prescribing Information. Forest Pharmaceuticals, Inc. St Louis, Mo.
How long should Namenda be taken?
The length of treatment with Namenda* will vary among patients. Talk with your doctor about how long your loved one should stay on treatment. As with any type of medication, talk to your doctor before starting or stopping Namenda.

Is Namenda covered by insurance?
Yes. Namenda* is covered by the majority of private health insurance plans and by Medicare Part D plans. When choosing an insurance plan make sure to check that the drugs you take are covered.

For more information about Medicare Part D, visit, www.medicare.gov, or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).


  • *Namenda is indicated for the treatment of moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease.
  • **Aricept is a product of Eisai Inc. and Pfizer Inc. Aricept is not manufactured by the makers of Namenda.