NMDA receptor antagonist (Alzheimer's disease)
Treatment of moderate to severe dementia of the Alzheimer type.
Also known as: Axura, Ebixa
DailyMed approved label (Memantine Hydrochloride Tablet; setID cbfd9d95-f50b-45ff-9857-9f1712c45e56).
DailyMed approved label (Memantine Hydrochloride Tablet; setID cbfd9d95-f50b-45ff-9857-9f1712c45e56).
No documented drug–drug interactions for this medicine.
Drastic dietary changes may alkalinise the urine and alter memantine elimination.
Avoid drastic dietary changes; monitor conditions that alter urine pH.
EMC-UK (MHRA) — approved Ebixa (Memantine) SmPC: https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/8222/smpc
Memantine may lower the convulsion threshold.
Use with caution in patients with epilepsy or a history of seizures.
EMC-UK (MHRA) — approved Ebixa (Memantine) SmPC: https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/8222/smpc
Limited data; safety in pregnancy is unknown.
Not recommended during pregnancy.
Excreted in milk; avoid while breastfeeding.
Advise effective contraception.
EMC-UK (MHRA) — approved Ebixa (Memantine) SmPC: https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/8222/smpc
Clinical and educational support tool. The information does not replace a medical prescription or the opinion of a qualified healthcare professional.
Low to moderate affinity NMDA antagonist: persistent activation of central NMDA receptors by glutamate contributes to Alzheimer symptomatology; memantine modulates this excitotoxicity without interfering with physiological synaptic transmission.
Uncompetitive (open-channel) antagonism of NMDA receptors, with low to moderate affinity, binding preferentially to the receptor-operated cation channels; no evidence of preventing or slowing neurodegeneration.
Oral bioavailability of ~100%; plasma peaks at 3–8 hours; absorption is not affected by food.
Minimal hepatic metabolism (no active metabolites); excretion is predominantly renal, unchanged (~50%) and as metabolites.
Elimination half-life of ~60–80 hours (increased in renal impairment and slightly in hepatic impairment).
Medicines from the same therapeutic group (ATC classification) or the same pharmacological class.
