Can you take donepezil and Namenda together?
Dec. 29, 2014 — The FDA has approved a combination pill for moderate to severe Alzheimer’s disease in people already being treated with both drugs. The pill, called Namzaric, combines memantine hydrochloride extended-release (Namenda) and donepezil hydrochloride (Aricept). The two drugs are often prescribed together.
What is memantine Namenda used for?
Memantine is used to treat the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease (AD; a brain disease that slowly destroys the memory and the ability to think, learn, communicate and handle daily activities). Memantine is in a class of medications called NMDA receptor antagonists. It works by decreasing abnormal activity in the brain.
Can you stop taking Namenda abruptly?
Although memantine is widely used and generally considered safe, an abrupt cessation of memantine may result in discontinuation syndrome that can be distressing and result in decline of natural course.
Why would you add memantine to donepezil?
Memantine plus donepezil showed superior outcomes for cognition, global assessment, daily activities, and neuropsychiatric symptoms, but lower acceptability than monotherapy and placebo. Combination therapy may be more cost-effective, because memantine slows the progression of AD.
Is donepezil and Namenda the same?
Aricept (donepezil hydrochloride) and Namenda (memantine hydrochloride) are used to reduce symptoms of mild to moderate dementia like that found in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Aricept and Namenda belong to different drug classes.
Can Namenda make dementia worse?
Memantine oral tablet is used for long-term treatment. It comes with serious risks if you don’t take it as prescribed. If you stop taking the drug or don’t take it at all: Your dementia symptoms may not be relieved, and they may get worse.
Does memantine help with anxiety?
Memantine may be an effective augmentation therapy in patients with anxiety who remain symptomatic despite adequate treatment with conventional antidepressant anxiolytics.
Is memantine a sedative?
It is possible that memantine exerts a sedative effect in a similar manner to ketamine. Care should be taken in use of memantine in elderly patients or in those with renal impairment.
Does Namenda help anxiety?
Result. Memantine augmentation resulted in clinically relevant reduction in anxiety symptoms when compared to baseline. Forty percent of patients achieved remission (HAM-A ≥ 7).
Should you take donepezil and memantine together?
Memantine and donepezil combination is used to treat dementia (memory loss and mental changes) associated with moderate or severe Alzheimer’s disease. Memantine and donepezil will not cure Alzheimer’s disease, however, it may improve thinking ability, behavior, or functional ability.