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What Are The Side Effects Of Namenda?
Question: Can you tell me the side effects of taking Named? My sister in law is on it (recently) and I'm hearing from her family that she does not seem as responsive as she was prior to taking it. They have also told me that the ads on TV state that is has to be taken with another drug to be effective. Her doctor only prescribed XXXXXXX I am her power of atorney and want to make sure she is taken care of properly.
Brief Answer:
Read below.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
As many drugs acting on central nervous system Namenda (Memantine) can cause side effects with the most common ones being dizziness, headache, confusion, somnolence, fatigue etc. However they are uncommon compared to other drugs, in less than 7% of patients. So before deciding it is due to Namenda I would discuss with the doctor why it was started, perhaps it is her condition which is progressing and is responsible for the symptoms. Judging from your description of a memory issue for years, it must be a question of a chronic neurodegenerative condition and these conditions progress over time, despite any medication.
Regarding the issue of taking it with another drug, it is true that technically it is licensed for use in moderate or severe cases not mild ones (I am assuming she’s taking it for dementia, the most common cause) and as it is a newer drug as an addition to the other older main group of drugs used for dementia, the cholinesteraze inhibitors, to be added when they are not enough, as a last measure.
However that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t work without them, they work in different ways and can be used alone, for that reason it is common practice for many doctors worldwide to use it alone as well. So I do not think there is anything wrong with it being prescribed alone do not worry about that. Perhaps since you say she’s had the condition for years the other group of drugs (donepezil, rivastigmine or galantamine) has been tried in the past and interrupted due to side effects and with the condition advancing doctors have decided to try Namenda.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Read below.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
As many drugs acting on central nervous system Namenda (Memantine) can cause side effects with the most common ones being dizziness, headache, confusion, somnolence, fatigue etc. However they are uncommon compared to other drugs, in less than 7% of patients. So before deciding it is due to Namenda I would discuss with the doctor why it was started, perhaps it is her condition which is progressing and is responsible for the symptoms. Judging from your description of a memory issue for years, it must be a question of a chronic neurodegenerative condition and these conditions progress over time, despite any medication.
Regarding the issue of taking it with another drug, it is true that technically it is licensed for use in moderate or severe cases not mild ones (I am assuming she’s taking it for dementia, the most common cause) and as it is a newer drug as an addition to the other older main group of drugs used for dementia, the cholinesteraze inhibitors, to be added when they are not enough, as a last measure.
However that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t work without them, they work in different ways and can be used alone, for that reason it is common practice for many doctors worldwide to use it alone as well. So I do not think there is anything wrong with it being prescribed alone do not worry about that. Perhaps since you say she’s had the condition for years the other group of drugs (donepezil, rivastigmine or galantamine) has been tried in the past and interrupted due to side effects and with the condition advancing doctors have decided to try Namenda.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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