Medication Search - Apo-Memantine
Apo-Memantine
Common Name:
memantine
How does Apo-Memantine work? What will it do for me?
Memantine belongs to the group of medications known as NMDA receptor antagonists. It is used alone or with other medications to treat people with moderate-to-severe Alzheimer’s disease. Memantine does not cure Alzheimer’s disease, but it is used to decrease the symptoms. It works in the brain to block the effect of some chemicals that cause symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease such as decreased memory and other mental functions.
This medication may be available under multiple brand names and/or in several different forms. Any specific brand name of this medication may not be available in all of the forms or approved for all of the conditions discussed here. As well, some forms of this medication may not be used for all of the conditions discussed here.
Your doctor may have suggested this medication for conditions other than those listed in these drug information articles. If you have not discussed this with your doctor or are not sure why you are taking this medication, speak to your doctor. Do not stop taking this medication without consulting your doctor.
Do not give this medication to anyone else, even if they have the same symptoms as you do. It can be harmful for people to take this medication if their doctor has not prescribed it.
What form(s) does Apo-Memantine come in?
Chaque comprimé blanc, ovale, biconvexe, enrobé d’une pellicule, portant l’inscription « APO | APO » sur une face et « MEM | 10 » sur l’autre, contient 10 mg de mémantine. Ingrédients non médicinaux : lactose monohydraté, cellulose microcristalline, croscarmellose sodique, stéarate de magnésium, hydroxypropylméthylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, polyéthylèneglycol et dioxyde de titane.
How should I use Apo-Memantine?
La dose usuelle de départ de mémantine est de 5 mg pris 1 fois par jour. Cette dose est augmentée graduellement jusqu’à 10 mg pris 2 fois par jour, habituellement dans l’espace de 1 mois. En augmentant graduellement la dose, les effets secondaires de ce médicament sont moins sérieux.
Plusieurs facteurs peuvent entrer en ligne de compte pour déterminer la dose dont une personne a besoin : son poids, son état de santé et la prise d’autres médicaments. Si votre médecin a recommandé une dose autre que celles indiquées ici, ne modifiez pas la manière de prendre le médicament sans le consulter au préalable.
Les comprimés de mémantine peuvent se prendre avec ou sans aliments. Les comprimés doivent s’avaler sans croquer ni mâcher avec un grand verre d’eau.
Il est important d’utiliser ce médicament conformément aux indications de votre médecin. Si vous oubliez une dose, ne vous souciez pas de la dose omise et reprenez le schéma posologique usuel. N’utilisez pas une double dose pour compenser l’omission d’une dose. Si vous hésitez sur la conduite à tenir après avoir omis une dose, demandez conseil à votre médecin ou à un pharmacien.
Entreposez ce médicament à la température ambiante, à l’abri de l’humidité et hors de la portée des enfants.
Do not dispose of medications in wastewater (e.g. down the sink or in the toilet) or in household garbage. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medications that are no longer needed or have expired.
Who should NOT take Apo-Memantine?
Do not take this medication if you are allergic to memantine or any ingredients of the medication.
What side effects are possible with Apo-Memantine?
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Many medications can cause side effects. A side effect is an unwanted response to a medication when it is taken in normal doses. Side effects can be mild or severe, temporary or permanent.
The side effects listed below are not experienced by everyone who takes this medication. If you are concerned about side effects, discuss the risks and benefits of this medication with your doctor.
The following side effects have been reported by at least 1% of people taking this medication. Many of these side effects can be managed, and some may go away on their own over time.
Contact your doctor if you experience these side effects and they are severe or bothersome. Your pharmacist may be able to advise you on managing side effects.
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Although most of the side effects listed below don’t happen very often, they could lead to serious problems if you do not seek medical attention.
Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:
- behavior changes (e.g., aggression, rage, agitation, anxiety, paranoia)
- change in frequency of urination
- confusion
- change in balance and coordination especially when walking
- fungal infection
- hallucinations (seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not actually there)
- high blood pressure
- signs of a blood clot in the arm or leg (tenderness, pain, swelling, warmth, or redness in the arm or leg) or lungs (difficulty breathing, sharp chest pain that is worst when breathing in, coughing, coughing up blood, sweating, or passing out)
- signs of depression (e.g., poor concentration, changes in weight, changes in sleep, decreased interest in activities, thoughts of suicide)
- signs of heart failure (e.g., decreased heart rate, difficulty breathing, build up of fluid in the legs and ankles)
- signs of liver problems (e.g., nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss, yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes, dark urine, pale stools)
- signs of pancreatitis (e.g., abdominal pain on the upper left side, back pain, nausea, fever, chills, rapid heartbeat, swollen abdomen)
- trouble walking
- vision changes
Stop taking the medication and seek immediate medical attention if any of the following occur:
- seizures
- signs of a severe allergic reaction (hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of the mouth, lips, or throat)
- signs of a severe skin reaction (e.g., blistering, peeling, a rash covering a large area of the body, a rash that spreads quickly, or a rash combined with fever or discomfort)
Some people may experience side effects other than those listed. Check with your doctor if you notice any symptom that worries you while you are taking this medication.
Are there any other precautions or warnings for Apo-Memantine?
Before you begin using a medication, be sure to inform your doctor of any medical conditions or allergies you may have, any medications you are taking, whether you are pregnant or breast-feeding, and any other significant facts about your health. These factors may affect how you should use this medication.
Eyes: Memantine may build up in the tear fluid and contribute to changes in the eyes and possible changes in vision. People taking memantine should have regular check-ups from their eye doctor. If you notice any changes to your vision, contact your doctor as soon as possible.
Heart disease: Memantine may cause increased blood pressure, slowed heartbeat and occasionally, heart failure. If you have heart problems, discuss with your doctor how this medication may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of this medication, and whether any special monitoring is needed.
Kidney function: The kidneys remove mematadine from the body. When the kidneys aren’t working properly, the medication can build up in the body and cause side effects. Memantine is not recommended for people with severe kidney disease.
If you have reduced kidney function or moderate kidney disease you may need a lower dose of memantine. Discuss with your doctor how this medication may affect your medical condition and whether any special monitoring is needed.
Liver function: The safety of memantine when given to someone with severely reduced liver function has not been studied and is not recommended. If you have reduced liver function or liver disease, discuss with your doctor how this medication may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of this medication, and whether any special monitoring is needed.
Reduced elimination from the body: The elimination of memantine from the body can be reduced in certain situations. These include changing from a normal diet to a strict vegetarian diet, taking certain medications (e.g., sodium bicarbonate, acetazolamide), having a kidney condition called renal tubular acidosis, or having a urinary tract infection. Your doctor will monitor your condition closely in these situations.
Seizures: Memantine has not been studied for use by people who have seizure disorders (such as epilepsy). If you have a history of seizure disorder, discuss with your doctor how this medication may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of this medication, and whether any special monitoring is needed.
Pregnancy: This medication should not be used during pregnancy unless the benefits outweigh the risks. If you become pregnant while taking this medication, contact your doctor immediately.
Breast-feeding: It is not known if memantine passes into breast milk. If you are a breast-feeding mother and are taking this medication, it may affect your baby. Talk to your doctor about whether you should continue breast-feeding.
Children: The safety and effectiveness of using this medication have not been established for children.
Seniors: There is limited information about the safety of memantine for people over the age of 85.
What other drugs could interact with Apo-Memantine?
There may be an interaction between memantine and any of the following:
- amantidine
- anticholinergic medications (e.g., atropine, hyoscyamine)
- bupropion
- carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (e.g., acetazolamide, topiramate)
- cimetidine
- dextromethorphan
- dopamine agonists (e.g., bromocriptine, pergolide, pramipexole, ropinirole)
- hydrochlorothiazide
- ketamine
- levodopa
- nicotine
- quinidine
- ranitidine
- sodium bicarbonate
- triamterene
- trimethoprim
- warfarin
If you are taking any of these medications, speak with your doctor or pharmacist. Depending on your specific circumstances, your doctor may want you to:
- stop taking one of the medications,
- change one of the medications to another,
- change how you are taking one or both of the medications, or
- leave everything as is.
An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of them. Speak to your doctor about how any drug interactions are being managed or should be managed.
Medications other than those listed above may interact with this medication. Tell your doctor or prescriber about all prescription, over-the-counter (non-prescription), and herbal medications that you are taking. Also tell them about any supplements you take. Since caffeine, alcohol, the nicotine from cigarettes, or street drugs can affect the action of many medications.
All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2021. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/drug/getdrug/Apo-Memantine