Memantine Generic is a medication for treating dementia, a common manifestation of Alzheimer’s disease, in about 60 to 70% of cases. Dementia causes severe memory loss, and the condition degenerates quickly. It affects memory, learning, thinking, decisions, and the ability to perform daily activities.
This disease is one of the primary causes of disability and dependency and is prevalent among older adults above 65. It gets worse with age, and there is no cure for dementia.
200mg can slow down and delay the degeneration.
What is Memantine 200mg?
Memantine 200mg helps treat many neurological disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease. It prevents memory loss and further degeneration of brain cells caused by Alzheimer’s disease and other neurological disorders. It slows down the delays of the disease progression.
How does Memantine 200mg work?
Glutamate is the critical and essential excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain. NMDAR is a subtype receptor of the glutamate receptor. Glutamate activates the NMDAR receptor for memory and learning. Too much glutamate chemical secretion in the brain leads to excessive activation of NMDAR, causing more neuronal loss and damage. It adds to the already damaged neurological disorders, making the condition more acute and chronic, leading to dementia.
Memantine is an NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) receptor antagonist. It blocks the NMDAR, stopping the over-activation of the glutamate receptors so the brain can function normally. It helps slow and delay neurotoxicity caused by neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease.
Memantine Generic helps maintain the natural activity of the NMDA receptor. It is critical for the normal functioning of the neurons and psychological activities. The drug helps slow down the NMDAR activity to prevent more damage to the brain cells.
What are the Uses and Benefits of Memantine 200mg?
Memantine 200mg Uses
Memantine 200mg is a revolutionary drug to treat moderate-to-severe cases of Alzheimer’s disease and other neurological disorders. Memantine 200 mg is an antagonist to glutamate receptors and slows down the progression of Alzheimer’s disease and many neurological disorders. It helps treat dementia.
Memantine 200mg Benefits
- It is an antagonist to glutamate receptors
- Memantine medication slows down the over-activation of the glutaminergic system.
- Slows down the progression of memory loss because of Alzheimer’s disease
- Prevents further brain cell degeneration in many neurological disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease
- Well tolerated and relatively fewer side effects
- Increases the life span of the patient with Alzheimer’s disease
- Multiple doses for many health conditions
- Used in combination with other safer medications
- Improves the wellbeing and quality of life
What are the Safe Dosages of Memantine 200mg?
Your doctor will decide the safest Memantine 200mg doses based on your medical history and underlying health conditions. The doctor may alter the dose based on your response to the treatment. You must not change or stop the doses yourself or miss or stop taking the doses without informing the doctor.
Dosage forms
Capsule, extended-release, 24-hour, Oral, as hydrochloride-generic–7mg, 14mg, 21mg, 28mg
Solution form - oral, as hydrochloride-generic–2mg/ml
Tablet, oral, as hydrochloride–generic–5mg, 10mg
Dosage
- Starting dosage–5mg once daily
- Target dosage–20mg once daily
- Increment schedule titration–Increase by 5mg daily dosage in the weekly interval
Weekly dosage increment
- Week 1: 5mg daily
- Week 2: 10mg daily (5mg twice daily)
- Week 3: 15mg daily (5mg one time and 10mg one time daily)
- Week 4: 20mg daily (10mg twice daily)
Store the Memantine medication safely between 20-25 degrees centigrade. Store it away from the reach of children, direct light, in a moisture-free environment. Do not refrigerate.
How to take Memantine 200mg?
In oral and extended-release forms, take it orally by mouth.
Tablet - Swallow the tablet form. Do not split, chew, crush, dissolve, or break in the mouth.
Extended-release capsules– Swallow or sprinkle on food and take.
Oral solution– Do not mix with any other liquid. Apply it using the dosing device provided with the pack, supplied with a syringe, syringe adaptor cap, tubing, and other devices as required, and slowly squirt into the corner of the mouth.
Memantine 200mg Overdose
Avoid overdose as it may worsen the side effects, including drowsiness, dizziness, confusion, loss of balance, hallucination, nausea, diarrhea, fatigue, agitation, aggression, difficulty breathing, or walking.
When Should I Avoid Memantine 200mg or use it cautiously?
It is for adults above 15 years. It is a prescription-only medication, and one must not use it without an active Rx or prescription.
It is not for pregnant and breastfeeding women or those who are planning pregnancy.
Avoid driving, riding, operating machines, and tasks that require alertness and instant reflexes.
Avoid this medication if you are allergic to Memantine HCL or its active and inactive ingredients.
Hepatic and kidney impairment, heart, and cardiovascular disorders patients must avoid the medication.
Avoid alcohol, smoking, contraband and illegal drugs and substances, recreational drugs, and pre-existing and OTC medications.
Patients with liver and kidney impairment or disorders must avoid the medication.
Older adults must use caution while using it. Although older adults above 65 are more affected by Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and memory loss, they have low immunity and other health challenges. They must consult the doctor and choose the best treatment for the disease.
Pediatric patients and children must avoid this medication or consult a doctor.
If you have epilepsy, liver, lung, kidney dysfunction, urinary problems, bladder, and kidney infections, you must avoid the medication or consult your doctor.
If you have undergone heart surgery, blockage, stroke, heart attack, heart failure, or upcoming surgery, inform your doctor. If you have hypertension (high blood pressure), avoid taking Memantine medication.
Avoid drug interactions:
- Drugs causing alkaline urine
- NMDA antagonist drugs
Memantine 200mg may interact with heart or cardiovascular medicines and treatment, such as hydrochlorothiazide (HCT). It reduces the levels of HCT and HCT effectiveness. Other medicines, like procainamide and quinidine, may increase the concentration of Memantine 200mg, causing cellular toxicity.
It is not habit-forming and helps in controlling drug and substance addiction if you have morphine or ethanol addiction.
What are the Side effects of Memantine 200mg?
The common side effects of Memantine Medication will subside. Talk to the doctor immediately if you experience severe side effects.
Common Memantine 200mg Side Effects
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Headache
- Agitation
- Confusion
- Diarrhea
- Indigestion
- Constipation
- Shakiness
- Balance disorder
- Skin rash
- High blood pressure
Severe Memantine 200mg side effects
- Anemia
- Hepatitis
- Liver failure
- Heartbeat, rhythm disorder
- Heart failure
- Seizure
- Somnolence
- Neuroleptic malignant syndrome
- Weight change
- Breathlessness
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea
- Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
- Acute renal failure
- Influenza-like symptoms
- Bronchitis
- Pneumonia
- Upper respiratory infection