Namenda (memantine)

Namenda generic

Namenda is a brand-name drug that contains the active ingredient memantine. This active ingredient is also available as a generic medication. A generic drug is an exact copy of the active ingredient in a brand-name medication.

The generic is considered to be as safe and effective as the original drug. Generics tend to cost less than brand-name drugs.

If you’re interested in using the generic form of Namenda, talk with your doctor. They can tell you if it comes in forms and strengths suitable for your condition.

Namenda side effects

Namenda can cause mild or serious side effects. The following lists contain some of the key side effects that may occur while taking Namenda. These lists do not include all possible side effects.

For more information about the possible side effects of Namenda, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can give you tips on how to manage any side effects that may concern or bother you.

Note: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) tracks side effects of drugs it has approved. If you would like to notify the FDA about a side effect you’ve had with Namenda, you can do so through MedWatch.

Mild side effects

Below is a partial list of Namenda’s mild side effects. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist or view the prescribing information for Namenda or Namenda XR.

Mild side effects of Namenda can include:

• dizziness
• headache
• constipation
• diarrhea
• vomiting
• pain, such as back pain
• fatigue
• sleepiness
• confusion
• cough
• shortness of breath
• high blood pressure
• mild allergic reaction*

Most of these side effects may go away within a few days to a couple of weeks. However, if they become more severe or don’t go away, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

* For more information about allergic reaction and Namenda, see “Allergic reaction” below.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects from Namenda aren’t common, but they can occur. Call your doctor right away if you have serious side effects. Call 911 or your local emergency number if your symptoms feel life threatening or if you think you’re having a medical emergency.

Serious side effects and their symptoms can include:

• Mental health changes, such as anxiety, depression, or hallucinations. Symptoms can include:
  • changes in mood
  • loss of interest in activities enjoyed in the past
  • feeling tense or worried
  • irritability
  • trouble sleeping
  • seeing or hearing things that aren’t real
• Severe allergic reaction.*

* For details about allergic reaction and Namenda, see “Allergic reaction” below.

ALLERGIC REACTION

As with most drugs, some people can have an allergic reaction after taking Namenda. This side effect wasn’t reported in clinical trials of this drug but can still occur.

Symptoms of a mild allergic reaction can include:

• skin rash
• itchiness
• flushing

A more severe allergic reaction is rare but possible. Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction can include:

• swelling under your skin, typically in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
• swelling of your tongue, mouth, or throat
• trouble breathing

Call your doctor right away if you have an allergic reaction to Namenda, as the reaction could become severe. Call 911 or your local emergency number if your symptoms feel life threatening or if you think you’re having a medical emergency.

Namenda uses

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves prescription drugs such as Namenda to treat certain conditions. Namenda may also be used off-label for other conditions. Off-label drug use is when an FDA-approved drug is prescribed for a purpose other than what it’s approved for.

Namenda for dementia related to Alzheimer’s disease

Namenda is FDA-approved to treat moderate to severe dementia related to Alzheimer’s disease.

Alzheimer’s disease is a condition that damages nerve cells in your brain and leads to progressively worsening dementia. With dementia, you have difficulties with memory, thinking, understanding, decision-making, and communicating. You may also have difficulties with spatial awareness. These isues can affect how you feel and behave. They can also make it harder to do everyday activities, such as washing, dressing, cooking, and eating.

Namenda helps improve memory and thinking. It reduces the symptoms of Alzheimer’s dementia, which can make it easier to do everyday activities. However, it doesn’t stop Alzheimer’s disease from getting worse.

For this purpose, a doctor may prescribe Namenda by itself or with other drugs for Alzheimer’s disease.

Examples of other Alzheimer’s disease drugs that may be used with Namenda include donepezil (Aricept) and rivastigmine (Exelon).

To learn more about Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, you can visit our dementia hub.

Common questions about Namenda

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about Namenda.

How does Namenda compare with Aricept?

Namenda and Aricept (donepezil) are both prescribed to treat dementia related to Alzheimer’s disease. Both drugs are used for moderate to severe dementia. Aricept can also be used for mild dementia that’s related to earlier stages of Alzheimer’s. These drugs reduce the symptoms of Alzheimer’s dementia and can improve daily functioning. But they don’t stop Alzheimer’s disease from getting worse.

Namenda and Aricept work in different ways. They can cause some similar and some different side effects.

Both drugs are available as an oral immediate-release tablet. Namenda also comes as an oral extended-release capsule called Namenda XR. Extended-release dose forms release the medication into your body slowly over time instead of all at once.

To learn more about how these drugs compare, talk with your doctor. They can recommend whether either drug is a good option for you.

Is Namenda safe for older adults?

Yes, Namenda is safe for older adults. Alzheimer’s disease typically affects older adults.

In clinical trials of Namenda, side effects reported in adults ages 65 years and older were similar to those reported in younger adults.

However, older adults are more likely to have kidney or liver problems that could raise the risk of side effects with Namenda. So doctors may prescribe a dosage of Namenda that’s lower than usual for certain older adults with severe liver or kidney problems.

If you have more questions about Namenda’s safety based on age, talk with your doctor.

Can Namenda be used for autism spectrum disorder?

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved Namenda for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Clinical trials of Namenda in children with ASD did not find the drug to be effective for this use.

Some research found that memantine (the active ingredient in Namenda) may help reduce certain symptoms of ASD, such as anxiety. However, further studies are needed to know if the drug may be effective for treating ASD.

If you’re interested in finding a treatment for ASD, talk with your doctor.

Namenda dosage

The Namenda dosage your doctor prescribes will depend on several factors. These include:

• the form of Namenda you take
• other medical conditions you may have

Typically, your doctor will start you on a low dosage. Then they’ll adjust it over time to reach the amount that’s right for you. Your doctor will ultimately prescribe the smallest dosage that provides the desired effect.

The following information describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended. However, be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs.

Drug forms and strengths

Namenda comes in the following forms and strengths:

• Namenda immediate-release oral tablet: 5 milligrams (mg) and 10 mg
• Namenda XR extended-release oral capsule: 7 mg, 14 mg, 21 mg, and 28 mg

Immediate-release dose forms release the medication into your body all at once. Extended-release dose forms release the medication into your body slowly over time.

Dosage for dementia related to Alzheimer’s disease

Your doctor will prescribe a low starting dosage of Namenda or Namenda XR. Then they’ll usually increase your dose each week until you reach the dose that’s right for you. However, if you have bothersome side effects, your doctor may increase your dose more slowly.

The typical recommended dosages for Namenda and Namenda XR are described below.

• Namenda oral tablet:
  • 5 mg taken once per day for at least 1 week, then
  • 5 mg taken twice per day for at least 1 week, then
  • 5 mg every morning and 10 mg every evening (or vice versa) for at least 1 week, then
  • 10 mg taken twice per day after that
• Namenda XR oral capsule:
  • 7 mg taken once per day for at least 1 week, then
  • 14 mg taken once per day for at least 1 week, then
  • 21 mg taken once per day for at least 1 week, then
  • 28 mg taken once per day after that

About taking Namenda

Below you’ll find information about key dosage issues.

• When to take: After your first week of treatment, you should take Namenda twice per day (morning and evening). You should take Namenda XR once per day (at any time, but at the same time each day). Taking the medication around the same times of day helps keep a steady level of the drug in your body. This helps Namenda work effectively.
• If you miss a dose: If you miss a dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose as scheduled. Don’t take a double dose to make up for missing a dose. If you miss several doses in a row, talk with your doctor. They may recommend restarting treatment with a low dose and gradually increasing your dose again.
• Taking Namenda with food:You can take Namenda and Namenda XR with or without food.
• Crushing, splitting, or chewing Namenda: Namenda tablets are meant to be swallowed whole. The manufacturer doesn’t state if these tablets can be crushed, split, or chewed. If you have trouble swallowing Namenda tablets, ask your doctor or pharmacist if you can crush, split, or chew them.
• Crushing, splitting, or chewing Namenda XR: Namenda XR capsules should be swallowed whole. These capsules should not be crushed or chewed. If you have trouble swallowing Namenda XR capsules, you can open the capsule and sprinkle the contents on a spoonful of applesauce. Swallow this right away without chewing.
• Length of use: Namenda is meant to be used as a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor determine that Namenda is safe and effective for you, you’ll likely take it long term.
• Length of time to work: It may take a few weeks for Namenda to start working to reduce symptoms of dementia and improve daily functioning.

Overdose

Using more than the recommended dosage of Namenda can lead to serious side effects. Do not use more Namenda than your doctor recommends.

Overdose symptoms

Symptoms of an overdose can include:

• weakness
• slow or unsteady movements
• sleepiness
• slow heart rate
• confusion
• dizziness
• hallucinations
• psychosis
• vomiting
• agitation
• restlessness
• loss of consciousness

What to do in case of overdose

If you think you’ve taken too much of this drug, call your doctor. You can also call America’s Poison Centers at 800-222-1222 or use its online tool. However, if your symptoms are severe, call 911 or your local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room right away.

Namenda interactions

Namenda can interact with several other medications.

Before taking Namenda, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Tell them about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take. Also tell them about any vitamins, herbs, and supplements you use. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions.

Interactions with medications

Below is a list of medications that can interact with Namenda. This list does not contain all drugs that may interact with Namenda. If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Alcohol interaction

Alcohol is not known to interact with Namenda. It’s likely safe to consume alcohol while taking Namenda. If you have questions about how much alcohol is safe to drink while taking Namenda, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Keep in mind that alcohol can worsen symptoms of dementia, which Namenda is used to treat.

Namenda cost and coupons

As with all medications, the cost of Namenda can vary. The actual price you’ll pay depends on your insurance plan, your location, and the pharmacy you use.

Drug coupons: You can visit Optum Perks for price estimates of Namenda and Namenda XR. These estimates are based on the use of Optum Perks coupons. Note: Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with any insurance copays or benefits.

Financial and insurance assistance:If you need financial support to pay for Namenda, or if you need help understanding your insurance coverage, help is available.

To learn more about saving money on prescriptions, check out this article.

Namenda is available in a generic form called memantine. A generic drug is an exact copy of the active ingredient in a brand-name medication. The generic is considered to be as safe and effective as the original drug. And generics tend to cost less than brand-name drugs. To find out how the cost of memantine compares to the cost of Namenda, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

To learn more about saving money on prescriptions, check out this article.

Save on your Namenda prescription

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Retail price refers to the manufacturer’s published list price and is up to date as of 3/2023. Retail and discounted prices are U.S.-only and can vary based on region and pharmacy. We cannot guarantee that the discounted price listed here will exactly match the price at your pharmacy. Please contact your pharmacy for the exact price.

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Similar drugs

Other drugs are available that can treat your condition. Some may be a better fit for you than others. If you’re interested in finding an alternative to Namenda, talk with your doctor. They can tell you about other medications that may work well for you.

The following drugs are similar to Namenda:

• donepezil (Aricept)
• galantamine
• memantine and donepezil (Namzaric)
• rivastigmine (Exelon)

Things to consider when taking Namenda

If you can become pregnant, consider the following information about pregnancy, fertility, birth control, and breastfeeding.

Namenda and pregnancy

It is unknown whether you should take Namenda during pregnancy. If you’re planning a pregnancy or can become pregnant, talk with your doctor before taking this medication.

Namenda and birth control

It is unknown if Namenda is safe to take during pregnancy. If you’re sexually active and you or your partner can become pregnant, talk with your doctor about your birth control needs while you’re using Namenda.

Namenda and breastfeeding

It is unknown whether you should take Namenda while breastfeeding. If you’re currently breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before taking this medication.