Memantine is a medicine for dementia. It is used to treat memory loss which is one of the main symptoms of dementia.
It is also used to treat the symptoms of:
- Alzheimer's disease
- dementia with Lewy bodies
- mixed dementia – when you have more than one type of dementia
- corticobasal degeneration (CBD)
Memantine does not work for everyone. It is not a cure for dementia and your symptoms may gradually get worse, even when you're taking it.
How each person responds to memantine will be different. Some people find it helps with their symptoms a lot. For others, it might seem like it's not working, but it could be preventing symptoms from getting worse.
Memantine is available on prescription only. It comes as tablets, including soluble tablets that you dissolve in water and swallow as a drink, tablets that melt in your mouth, and as a liquid that you swallow.
Key facts
- Memantine is not a cure for dementia but it can help with symptoms like being forgetful, feeling confused or feeling anxious.
- The most common side effects of memantine are feeling sleepy or dizzy, headaches, constipation and shortness of breath.
- It can take up to 3 months for memantine to work fully, but it works differently for everyone.
- You can take memantine with or without food.
- Your doctor may increase your dose slowly for several weeks after starting. This helps to reduce any side effects.