Medication Inquiry

yardman49 · January 31

MY DW neurologist prescribed Memantine medication to slow dementia progression. I am asking our community what side effects they have experienced and have there been positive results of using this medication?

Timmyd · January 31

DW was prescribed memantine and has been using it for about 4 years. She has no apparent side effects. It seems to be well tolerated. DW has declined meaningfully in those 4 years. There is no way to tell what difference the drug has made.

There are a lot of medical studies which have been performed on the effect of this medication and are available on the internet. The consensus seems to be for ALZ, if the drug is tolerated, then it should be taken. From studies of large populations, ALZ patients using the drug do better than those who do not. However individual results can vary greatly and there is no way to really tell how well it works for any specific ALZ patient.

In the 4 years we have been using it, cost has varied greatly depending upon who our insurance was and what pharmacy we used. If cost is an issue, it is worth shopping around for memantine prices.

yardman49 · January 31

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/264919#Comment_264919

Thank you for your input😊

CindyBum · January 31

My DW took Memantime for about 2 weeks. We stopped because she became the leaning tower of Pisa and I had to almost carry her back from a walk one day she was leaning so hard to the right. So, side effect was significant balance issues.

annie51 · January 31

My experience with DH with memantine was similar to TimmyD’s - he was on it for 4 years or so with no noticeable side effects, but as he said, no way to know if it helped or not. It didn’t cost anything with our insurance. After reading Cindy’s post, I was amazed how different the side effects can be from person to person. But Memantine is a commonly prescribed drug for dementia.

Stan2 · February 1

Our experience with mementine echos Timmy and Annie.

Jeff H · February 1

My Mother-In-Law has been on Memantine. She's 86 and from what my Father-In-Law says it's been a "night-and-day" difference for her with no side effects. I asked my DW's neurologist about it and she said it wouldn't do any good for my DW. Everyone is different. I hope they find a cure for this terrible disease for our loved ones and us caregivers!

Momx3 · February 1

my dh is taking metamine because donzapril was causing daily headaches. Can’t really tell any difference between the two. He is still having headaches everyday. But we were told by a neurologist at UT SOUTHWEST in Dallas TX that none of the medicines really worked anyway. So ,y question is what’s the point in even taking anything. Anyone else been told this??

JC5 · February 1

DH has been on memantine for 6 years no side effects and VD has progressed slowly. Not sure if it’s the med or not. I often wonder if any of these dementia drugs really help

SDianeL · February 2

my husband was prescribed Memantine. The Neurologist said it would not slow the progression but that it might improve his concentration. No way to tell whether it did or not. He had no side effects so I left him on it. My husband progressed rapidly.

TMills · March 13

I'm new here and this is my first post. I watched my Mom float away after many years of taking her donepezil but she ate tons of sugar, which I don't think helped. In trying to help parents I read about Brain Health and began a Brain Diet for my DH and myself. (Mostly the Mediterranean Diet)

Years later, now that my DH has been diagnosed with VD/Alz, they put him on Memantine. I believe the med and the reactions are all so subjective! He's in his eighties and does meditation and exercises in the morning, walks just about every day. Dr said that they'd increase the dose as they felt it was needed.

I think I understand about growing new neural pathways and that's what we're both working on. He's reading aloud, doing word puzzles and things like that, to see if we can keep him on a plateau. His Dr didn't seem to think much of any of that aside from "sure, reading is good for you…"

I'd like to know who is exercising, paying attention to sleep and diet and who is just taking med.

Sorry that we're all here but I'm glad we have a "here" at which to be. T

countrywife · March 14

My DH was prescribed memantine by neuro #1 along with donepezil. He switched to another neuro for other reasons and this Dr said he’s ok with DH taking it but isn’t convinced it works very well but to definitely continue with the donepezil. DH stopped the memantine partially because he was glad to have one less med and with only once a day, compliance without having my reminding him was better. I’ve wondered if this was the right decision. I find it so difficult when doctor’s have conflicting opinions especially since there’s no sure measure of the efficacy. Not like BP meds. If they being down the BP, I know they’re doing their job. All that being said, DH didn’t complain about side effects with memantine.

ronda b · March 14

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/268004#Comment_268004

If he has VD with the alz, there is no changing the damage that has already been done to the brain. No diet will change it. The medication is to slow down the alzheimer's,not cure. Everything your doing is great and might help slow the alzheimer's some.

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