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Memantine - benefits and side effects

Doctor just prescribed Memantine for mom.  She is 87 and recently her memory has been failing rapidly.  Does anyone on this board have experience with this drug - did it improve your LO's memory?  Are the side effects bad?

Comments

  • Stuck in the middle
    Stuck in the middle Member Posts: 1,167
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    My wife has taken Memantine and Aricept for five years without noticeable side effects.  Her losses are progressing, but slowly, so I think it may be helping.
  • ChicagoGal
    ChicagoGal Member Posts: 28
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    Thank you for sharing your wife's experience with this drug.
  • MN Chickadee
    MN Chickadee Member Posts: 888
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    My mother didn't tolerate Memantine well. It made her incredibly sleepy. It was also very expensive out of pocket compared to Aricept for some reason. She is on aricept instead, has been for years. Some people have GI issues from these meds. My mother did not.  Everyone reacts differently to drugs so you will probably just have to try it. The idea behind the alzheimers drugs is that they help the brain's synapses fire a little better. They don't change the progression of the disease, just theoretically help facilitate the chemistry a little. Anecdotally it seems most people notice the most benefit in the earlier stages of dementia, but we continue to keep my mom on aricept in stage 6 because if it's not broke don't fix it. She isn't close to death yet so we don't want to risk her losing ground.
  • easy23
    easy23 Member Posts: 212
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    My husband has been on memantine for three years. We are not sure if it helps, but it hasn't hurt. It is expensive though.
  • Momshelper66
    Momshelper66 Member Posts: 2
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    My mom has been on it for a year now and is doing quite well. I can certainly tell the difference when she doesn't take it, and later I find the pill in all sorts of different places.
  • Iris L.
    Iris L. Member Posts: 4,420
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    I have been on Namenda 28 MG XR, now memantine 28 mg xr for twelve years.  It is helping me.  I had insomnia with my initial dosages, years ago.  It is very cheap.  I will look for my latest receipt.   

    Addendum:  I paid $50.25 for a 90 day supply of memantine in August.

    Iris

  • SusanB-dil
    SusanB-dil Member Posts: 1,149
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    mother-in-law has been on Memantine well over a year, now (not the only med).  She says she cannot take her meds on empty stomach. ok, makes sense.  But she has tolerated it very well.  The memantine and other meds she is on seem to be keeping her stable. (until maybe this past week ~sigh~)
  • Elshack
    Elshack Member Posts: 243
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    My DH got negative side effects from Aricept but the Dr switched him to Memantine and he  had no negative side effects. He has been on 10 mg 2x a day for 5 years. It seems to have slowed the progression but each case is different. If your Dr suggested it, I would give it a try. It depends on what kind of RX insurance she has but I pay $ 75.00 for a 3 mo supply.

Commonly Used Abbreviations


DH = Dear Husband
DW= Dear Wife, Darling Wife
LO = Loved One
ES = Early Stage
EO = Early Onset
FTD = Frontotemporal Dementia
VD = Vascular Dementia
MC = Memory Care
AL = Assisted Living
POA = Power of Attorney
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