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Namenda (memantine hydrochloride) is a unique treatment used to help with symptoms of dementia associated with Alzheimer's and Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). It will not stop or reverse the condition, but can slow worsening symptoms and improve cognitive function.

While most Alzheimer's treatments work by improving communication between brain cells, Namenda focuses on preventing further damage to the cells. It does this by inhibiting activity of the neurotransmitter glutamate, which can destroy brain cells at high levels. In more technical terms, this medication is an NMDA receptor antagonist. It is often used along with other Alzheimer's treatments.

Namenda is most beneficial with moderate to severe Alzheimer's; it has shown little benefit in patients with mild Alzheimer's.

Dosage & Administration

Namenda is available in regular tablets and extended release tablets. The primary difference between these products is that extended release tablets are taken once per day, while regular tablets may be divided into two smaller daily doses instead of one large dose. Note that this page is about regular tablets.

Treatment is fairly straightforward:

• Patients are usually started on 5 mg once per day.
• Treatment should continue for at least one week to see full effects.
• Dosage may be increased in 5 mg increments, waiting at least one week between increases, if lower doses are not producing significant results.
• At doses higher than 5 mg, treatment should be divided into two smaller doses taken at morning and evening. This helps keep levels of the medication consistent in the body.
• Do not exceed 20 mg per day without explicit doctor instruction.
• Tablets may be taken with or without food according to personal preference. Taking with food may help ease side effects like nausea.
• Treatment may continue for as long as it provides benefit.

Treatment will, of course, vary to some extent according to individual factors like age, weight, other medical conditions, other medications being taken, and so forth.

What to Expect from Namenda

As mentioned above, Namenda is not a cure. It will not stop or reverse the condition. For most patients, however, it will slow the disease's progression and boost functionality. Many patients enjoy the benefits of this treatment for years, but, unfortunately, there will come a time when the condition progresses to such an extent that it no longer provides significant benefit.

In the meantime, however, this cognition-enhancing medication provides a wide range of benefits. Patients taking Namenda often have improvement in:

• Memory
• Attention/focus
• Orientation
• Routine activities
• Socializing
• Speaking/communicating

Many patients find Namenda provides significant benefit on its own, but many others find this medication's effects are enhanced if taken along with other Alzheimer's treatments, such as Exelon or Aricept.

Warnings & Side Effects

Serious side effects with Namenda are rare; most are mild and transient, if experienced at all. The most common side effects are:

• Dizziness
• Headache
• Diarrhea
• Fatigue

The above side effects are not cause for concern unless severe enough to be disruptive.

Patients with other major medical conditions, such as liver impairment or diabetes, and patients at high risk of developing major medical conditions, such as those who are significantly overweight or underweight, are at greater risk of developing serious side effects; these patients should be monitored closely at the start of treatment.

Namenda is known to interact with some other medications, including over-the-counter cough medicines. Always check with a doctor or pharmacist before mixing medications.

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Namenda XR (memantine hydrochloride) is an NMDA receptor antagonist used to improve cognitive function and slow disease progression in Alzheimer's and Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). Often used with other medications, Namenda XR can significantly improve quality of life, help patients retain independence, and reduce the necessity for caretakers.

The medication works by inhibiting activity of the neurotransmitter glutamate, which can destroy brain cells at high levels. It is most effective in moderate to severe cases; it provides little benefit in mild cases.

The XR in this product indicates it is an extended-release formula. Taken only once per day, Namenda XR steadily releases even amounts of the medication to the body. In contrast, regular Namenda tablets are taken twice per day, morning and evening, to acheive the same effect.

Treatment Overview

Namenda XR is typically started at low doses, which are increased weekly to the standard dose of 28 mg per day. Tablets can be taken at any time of day, but once a time is chosen tablets should be taken at the same time every day. Missed doses should be taken as soon as remembered, unless it's near time for the next dose, in which case the missed dose should be skipped. If doses are missed for several consecutive days treatment may need to be restarted at lower doses; check with a doctor.

In otherwise healthy patients treatment is usually as follows:

• Start with 7 mg per day for 7 days.
• Increase dosage to 14 mg per day for 7 days.
• Increase dosage to 21 mg per day for 7 days.
• Increase dosage to 28 mg per day and continue for as long as treatment provides benefit.
• Do not exceed 28 mg per day without explicit doctor instruction.
• Tablets may be taken with or without food according to personal preference. Taking with food may help ease side effects like nausea.
• Do not crush, chew, dissolve or otherwise damage tablets; they should be swallowed whole.

For patients just starting treatment, Namenda XR is available in Titration Packs which contain 7 tablets of each dosage strength, everything needed to initiate treatment and increase dosage each week until reaching the target 28 mg per day. Patients already taking regular Namenda who want to switch to Namenda XR can start with 28 mg Namenda XR on the first day after the last dose of regular Namenda; there is no need to gradually increase doses in this case.

Namenda XR's effects are significantly enhanced if taken with an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor (AChEI), another Alzheimer's treatment. Common AChEI treatments include Exelon and Aricept.

There are, of course, mitigating factors that may influence dosage, such as age, other medical conditions (particularly renal impairment), and other medications being taken.

Quality of Life with Namenda XR

Namenda XR is not a cure for Alzheimer's, but it can significantly reduce symptoms. Patients taking Namenda XR, particularly when also taking an AChEI, usually show improvement in:

• Memory
• Attention/focus
• Orientation
• Routine activities
• Socializing
• Speaking/communicating

The medication will also slow the disease's progression. Patients taking Namenda XR can often retain their independence for much longer than they otherwise would and, perhaps more importantly, treatment can provide additional quality time with loved ones.

Namenda XR is well-tolerated and unlikely to produce significant side effects. Side effects that appear at the start of treatment often fade away as the body adjusts to the medication over the following weeks. Most commonly reported are:

• Dizziness
• Headache
• Diarrhea
• Fatigue

The above side effects are not cause for concern unless severe enough to be disruptive.

Namenda is known to interact with some other medications, including over-the-counter cough medicines. Always check with a doctor or pharmacist before mixing medications.