Memantine (Namenda) Side Effects & Complications

Q. A friend was recently put on a drug called Namenda. What do you know about side effects beyond what’s in the standard packaging? I’m asking because he has undergone a precipitous decline in both mental function and the ability to move, which dates to about the time he started on the medication. He’s now sleeping about 20 hours a day  and can barely talk.

Looking around on the web I see people referring to parents who became “mummies” on this med. Just wondered if you’d heard reports about side effects of Namenda. It certainly hasn’t improved his situation – and a LOT of downside if indeed his decline is a side effect from it.

I find it interesting that “confusion” is a stated side effect of Namenda. An Alzheimer’s drug with confusion as a side effect? Am I missing something here? How is this an improvement over plain old dementia pre-drug?

A. Let’s start with the obvious. There are no cures for Alzheimer’s disease. The drugs that are available may slow the decline a bit, but cannot really reverse the tragic trajectory of dementia.

NAMENDA SIDE EFFECTS & COMPLICATIONS

• Fatigue, sleepiness, dizziness, confusion, insomnia
• Headache, hallucinations, anxiety, depression, aggression
• Digestive distress, diarrhea, constipation, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting
• Cough, shortness of breath, bronchitis, flu-like symptoms, pneumonia
• Weight gain
• Back pain, body pain, arthritis-like symptoms
• Urinary incontinence, urinary tract infection, frequent urination
• Skin rash (this requires immediate medical attention as it could be life-threatening!)
• Heart failure, chest pain, slow pulse, irregular heart rhythms
• Anemia

Some people do seem to benefit from Namenda (Memantine). If, however, there is more confusion, sleepiness and general confusion, this drug may not be worth the cost or the other complications.

Please share your own experience with Namenda and Namenda side effects below in the comment section.

To learn more about drug development for the treatment of dementia you may wish to listen to our recent one-hour interview (“Avoiding Alzheimer’s Disease”) with one of the country’s leading experts in this field. There is NO COST for this podcast! Here is a link to the show.