What is Memantine? Uses, warnings & side effects

Take or administer memantine exactly as prescribed.

Please read the Patient Information sheet that is packaged with this medicine. 

Doses will change in the first few weeks of treatment. 

• People starting memantine tablets or capsules may be prescribed a titration pack for the first four weeks of treatment. 

• Memantine oral solution does not come in a titration pack.

Doses should be taken at the same time each day.

Memantine doses can be taken with a meal or on an empty stomach.

How to take or administer memantine tablets:

• Take or administer two doses daily, separated by about 12 hours.

• The tablet must be swallowed whole with a glass of water. No chewing, breaking, or crushing of the tablet.

• Store memantine tablets at room temperature.

How to administer memantine oral solution:

• Doses are given twice daily, spaced 12 hours apart.

• Measure doses using the calibrated oral syringe that comes with this medicine. Do not use kitchen measuring devices or tableware.

• When first starting memantine oral solution, follow the titration schedule carefully. The doses will change every four weeks.

• Early doses may involve fractions of a milliliter, so it’s important to understand how to measure fractional milliliter doses with the oral syringe. Ask a pharmacist to demonstrate the proper procedure.

• Store memantine oral solution at room temperature.

How to administer memantine extended-release capsules:

• Extended-release tablets are given once daily.

• The patient should swallow the capsule whole with a drink of water.

• If swallowing is difficult, the capsule can be opened and its contents sprinkled on applesauce. Immediately feed the mixture to the patient.

• Never open a capsule and split the dose.

• Store memantine capsules at room temperature.

How to use memantine titration packs:

• Memantine titration packs are blister packs containing 28 days of memantine tablets or capsules

• They are arranged by week and day.

• Do not remove a tablet or capsule from the blister pack until ready to give the dose.

• Store memantine titration packs at room temperature in the original carton.

How to use memantine capsule titration packs:

• Give each week’s capsules in order from left to right starting at Week 1. 

• Give only one capsule daily for 28 days.

How to use memantine tablet titration packs:

• Give each week’s tablets in order from left to right starting at Week 1. 

• The first row of tablets has only seven tablets, one for each day. Give only one tablet from this row per day for seven days.

• The second, third, and fourth rows each have 14 tablets arranged in two rows. Give two tablets from these rows daily. Give the tablet in the top row in the morning. Give the tablet in the bottom row in the evening.

Skip any missed dose.

Take the next dose at its regular time.

Do not take two doses to make up for a missed dose.

If doses are missed for several days in a row, call the prescriber or the healthcare team. The patient may need to restart memantine therapy at a lower dose.

This medicine is not safe for everyone.

You should not use this medicine if you have had an allergic reaction to memantine.

Inform healthcare professionals responsible for other treatments about memantine.

The prescriber needs regular visits and blood tests to check the effectiveness of the treatment and monitor the progress of the condition. Keep all appointments.

Make sure your doctor knows if the patient is pregnant, breastfeeding, or has:

• Liver disease

• A history of kidney problems

• A history of bladder problems

• A history of trouble passing urine

• A history of seizures

• Any other medical condition

Call the prescriber if you or the person taking memantine gets a urinary tract infection or kidney infection. The memantine dose may need to be reduced.

To avoid possible drug interactions, tell the prescriber about all the drugs and supplements being used, particularly:

• Drugs similar to memantine called NMDA inhibitors, including amantadine, dextromethorphan, or ketamine

• Drugs called carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, such as acetazolamide

• Sodium bicarbonate (antacids, baking soda, Alka-Seltzer, bicarbonate of soda)

• Dofetilide, nicotine, procainamide, quinidine

Tell other healthcare providers about memantine before they prescribe new medications.