memantine Health Article

• cough, chest tightness, fever, trouble breathing;

• chest pain, fast heart rate;

• confusion, hallucinations;

• sudden numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the body;

• lack of coordination;

• fainting or seizure (convulsions);

• urinating less than usual or not at all;

• pale skin, easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness; or

• increased blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision, trouble concentrating, chest pain, numbness, seizure).

Less serious side effects may include:

• nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, loss of appetite;

• dizziness, tired feeling;

• weight loss;

• swelling in your hands or feet;

• fast heart rate;

• easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness;

• joint pain;

• anxiety, aggression;

• skin rash;

• redness or swelling of or around your eyes; or

• urinating more than usual.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.

What other drugs will affect memantine?

Before taking memantine, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:

• cimetidine (Tagamet);

• nicotine (Commit, Habitrol, Nicoderm, Nicotrol, Nicorette);

• ranitidine (Zantac);

• quinidine (Cardioquin, Quinadex, Quinaglute);

• sodium bicarbonate (Alka-Seltzer, baking soda antacid home remedy);

• antiviral medication such as amantadine (Symmetrel) or rimantadine (Flumadine);

• cold or cough medicine that contains dextromethorphan;

• a diuretic (water pill) such as hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ, HydroDiuril, Hyzaar, Lopressor, Vasoretic, Zestoretic) or triamterene (Dyrenium, Maxzide, Dyazide);

• medicine to treat glaucoma, such as acetazolamide (Diamox), dichlorphenamide (Daranide), or methazolamide (Neptazane, MZM, Glauctabs); or

• an oral diabetes medicine that contains metformin (such as Fortamet, Glucophage, Actoplus Met, Avanda met, Metaglip, Glucovance).

This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with memantine. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about memantine.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.