Memantine: An oral NMDA antagonist for the treatment of moderate-to-severe Alzheimer's disease
Document Type
Article
Date of Original Version
2-1-2004
Abstract
Memantine (Namenda, Forest) is the newest medication to receive FDA approval for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and the first to be approved with a moderate-to-severe indication. All previously approved Alzheimer's disease treatments belong to the cholinesterase inhibitor class and are approved with a mild-to-moderate indication. Memantine has been used for more than 10 years in Germany and features a novel mechanism of action: N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonism. It has been shown to be effective in double-blind, placebo-controlled trials as monotherapy and in combination therapy with the cholinesterase inhibitor donepezil in patients with moderate-to-severe Alzheimer's disease. Memantine has also shown positive treatment effects in patients with vascular dementia. It has a favorable adverse effect profile with no adverse effect occurring at more than twice the rate of placebo. The availability of memantine will give clinicians and caregivers a new safe and effective treatment option for Alzheimer's disease. Forest Laboratories has filed an sNDA seeking a mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease indication for memantine as monotherapy.
Publication Title, e.g., Journal
Formulary
Volume
39
Issue
2
Citation/Publisher Attribution
Feret, Brett, and Dicks. "Memantine: An oral NMDA antagonist for the treatment of moderate-to-severe Alzheimer's disease." Formulary 39, 2 (2004): 91-103. https://digitalcommons.uri.edu/php_facpubs/1320