Namenda memantine HCI

Side Effects

Namenda: Well Tolerated, with a Low Rate of Side Effects

If the person you are caring for has just started or is about to start taking Namenda® (memantine HCl)*, you may be wondering about the possibility of side effects and drug interactions. Fortunately, you should know that:

  • Namenda is well tolerated by people with Alzheimer's disease 1
  • People taking Namenda experienced a low rate of gastrointestinal side effects 1,2
  • Namenda has a low potential for drug interactions 1

As with any drug, Namenda may cause some side effects in some patients. These side effects can include dizziness, constipation, headache and confusion. 1±

± In clinical trials, some people with Alzheimer's disease experienced a temporary period of confusion when taking Namenda. 1 If confusion is experienced, talk with the doctor about possibly adjusting the dose.

The most common adverse events reported with Namenda+Aricept® (donepezil)** were confusion, dizziness and falls, flu-like symptoms and agitation. 1

Low Rate of Gastrointestinal Side Effects

People taking Namenda experienced a low rate of gastrointestinal side effects, such as diarrhea, vomiting and nausea. In fact, in clinical trials, patients who took Namenda experienced about the same frequency of gastrointestinal side effects as those who took a placebo (sugar pill). 1,2†

Additionally, a clinical trial published in the Journal of the American Medical Association that compared patients with Alzheimer's disease taking Namenda+Aricept to those patients taking Aricept alone, found that patients taking combination therapy (Namenda+Aricept) experienced fewer gastrointestinal side effects. 3***

Low Potential for Drug Interactions

Many people with Alzheimer's disease take medications for other illnesses such as diabetes and hypertension. Fortunately, it is safe to take Namenda, with most other medications – including another Alzheimer's medication – because Namenda has a low potential for drug interactions. 1

If the person you are caring for has started or is about to start Namenda therapy, it is important that you talk with the doctor about all prescription and over-the-counter medications being taken.

Next Topic: Starting Namenda

† Patients taking Namenda experienced a low incidence of gastrointestinal side effects vs placebo: diarrhea (4.3% vs 4.6%), vomiting (3.0% vs 2.3%), and nausea (2.3% vs 2.5%).

  1. Namenda® Prescribing Information. Forest Pharmaceuticals, Inc. St Louis, Mo.
  2. Data on file. Forest Laboratories, Inc.
  3. Tariot PN et al. JAMA. 2004
  • *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.
  • ***Results from a randomized, multicenter, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled U.S. study investigating the efficacy of NAMENDA+Aricept in patients with moderate to severe AD. The study involved 404 outpatients. Patients were randomized to treatment with NAMENDA (10 mg BID) or sugar pill to a stable regimen of Aricept (5 mg-10 mg/day) for 24 weeks.