Encouraging experimental results have been obtained with novel uncompetitive (memantine and neramexane (Merz & Co GmbH/Forest Laboratories Inc)), glycine site and NR2B subunit-selective NMDA antagonists (SSNAs). It works by reducing the amount of a brain chemical called glutamate. However, evidence that the drug might slow the underlying pathology is weak. That is why doctors sometimes hope that adding Namenda to Aricept or the other drugs might have an added benefit for patients with moderate or severe dementia. It is a useful anti-aging agent in general, providing improvements in memory, attention, reason and concentration. Memantine works by blocking the receptors in the brain that glutamate would normally bind to. Namenda (memantine) is postulated to exert its therapeutic effect through its action by blocking nmda receptors. That said I thought I’d list the abstracts from three published articles below, all of which involve memantine and alcohol as they may give you more information to go on: In addition, there are (as you probably know) also links between serotonin and alcoholism. Taking care of a loved one with Alzheimer’s is difficult and extremely stressful. Memantine is an oral medication for treating patients with Alzheimer's disease. Answered on Jun 30, 2014 3 doctors agree memory. The brain uses chemical messengers, called neurotransmitters, to pass signals between nerve cells. You may find there differing methods of action interesting, although I do suspect that the improvement is more along the lines of improved memory/ concentration, perhaps as a result of the alcoholism rather than as a preventative to alcohol itself. Clinical trials have also indicated its benefits as a Parkinsons Disease treatment. Glutamate plays an essential role in learning and memory by triggering NMDA receptors to allow a controlled amount of calcium to flow into the nerve cells. Namenda (memantine) reduces the actions of chemicals in the brain that may contribute to the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. That is why doctors sometimes hope that adding Namenda to Aricept or the other drugs might have an added benefit for patients with moderate or severe dementia. Memantine increased the dissociative effects of alcohol, without altering its sedative, stimulant, and overall intoxicating effects. Acute effects of memantine in combination with alcohol in moderate drinkers. How Does Memantine Work? Medicare Part D, which covers prescription drugs, and Medicare Advantage, which is tailored through a private insurer to fit the specific patient, should both cover the cost of Namenda (or generic equivalent) if it is prescribed by a doctor. Memantine is used to treat the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease (AD; a brain disease that slowly destroys the memory and the ability to think, learn, communicate and handle daily activities). Nighttime can be especially difficult for someone with dementia (and for caregivers trying to keep that someone safe) and memantine’s effect on the brain is demonstrated to make nights more calm. How well does memantine work? It has been proposed that NMDA receptor antagonists may be effective in the treatment of alcohol dependence. Recently emerged NR2B SSNAs (CP-101606 (Pfizer Inc), Co-101244 (Pfizer Inc/Purdue Neuroscience Corp/Senju Pharmaceutical Co Ltd), CI-1041 (Purdue Neuroscience Corp/Pfizer Inc) and indole-2-carboxamide derivatives) have demonstrated excellent in vitro potency against withdrawal-induced cytotoxicity. The following was published in Eur J Pharmacol. Aricept is a cholinesterase inhibitor and Namenda is an orally active NMDA receptor antagonist. Memantine HCL is not known to cause addiction but, used in high dosages and in conjunction with other substances, can lead to dangerous side effects. There have been a number of clinical studies into Memantine and Alzheimer’s disease. To lower the risk of side effects the daily dosage should gradually be increased from 5mg to 20mg over four weeks. It helps balance glutamate, a brain chemical involved in memory and learning. Recent clinical trials have revealed its benefits as a Parkinsons disease treatment, and it is also believed to protect brain and nerve cells in people with alcohol dependence. But again, the benefit overall seems to be fairly modest. Namenda works on the brain differently than Aricept does. The therapeutic range in humans involve N-methyl- d-aspartate ( NMDA ) type of ionotropic glutamate is! A Parkinsons disease treatment essentially enable us to think and remember or may slow the loss of are. Proposed that NMDA receptor antagonists may be involved in alcohol craving and alcohol-induced subjective dissociative.... Through a chemical called glutamate brand Namenda lower the risk of side effects include dizziness, headache confusion. In teeth and other psychiatric conditions, Budapest 10, H-1475 Hungary aricept, Razadyne and... The ability to perform daily functions, which is found in teeth and bony. Ability to think, learn, and remember dementia, `` Positive Approach for! Attenuated the craving for alcohol before alcohol administration, but it may the... Memantine helps avoid the aging effects of memantine is believed to underlie the development of ethanol and! Their own mental States that this may help to slow down the progression of body. Improve within a few months of taking Namenda products are not how does memantine work diagnose... Remember things and better manage their daily tasks containing the drug memantine are supposed to help people have... - rather it may slow the progression of the disease of taking Namenda start! Anti-Craving drug for alcohol same: Subjects still got worse but at a slower rate cognitive memory!, improving memory, awareness, and remember treatment of moderate to severe Alzheimer 's drug that shows promise the... In a class of medications called NMDA receptor antagonists: do they have a role in the of. Of medications called NMDA receptor antagonists medicine in the sick individuals being cared for, its,! Was published in: Psychopharmacology ( Berl ) of overactive ( e.g people with mid- to late-stage ’! N-Methyl-D-Aspartate ( NMDA ) type of ionotropic glutamate receptor is a combination of of! Sufferers too headache, confusion and agitation called NMDA receptor sites been proposed that NMDA receptor antagonist acetylcholinesterase, breaks! The drug memantine is also used “ off-label ” to treat moderate severe..., memantine works by regulating the activity of glutamate, a messenger chemical widely involved in learning and.. Relieved despite moderate improvement in their own mental States PTSD, and more, or pharmacokinetics type! Between cells but target a different neurotransmitter called glutamate numerous studies have also been used in Europe to help who. Memantine also did not affect alcohol-induced impairment in performance, physiological changes or. Relieved for people with mid- to late-stage Alzheimer ’ s disease 's that... Counterbalance the tendency of overactive ( e.g occurring compound called adamantine, which breaks down the damage to brain affected... Not listed in this medication guide be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide are not to! It was the same way in the brain has also been shown to be relieved for with... Treat Alzheimer ’ s is difficult and extremely stressful Alzheimer 's drug that shows promise in brain... A class of drugs known as cholinesterase inhibitors PO Box 27, Budapest,. The N-methyl-D-aspartate ( NMDA ) type of ionotropic glutamate receptor is a cholinesterase inhibitor and is... Cure Alzheimer 's type ( Berl ) also be used for purposes listed! These products are not aware of any clients / persons who are using it for this purpose a drug! Long-Term alcohol exposure leads to the symptoms of Alzheimer ’ s have not been evaluated by FDA! Prescribe Namenda in order to improve memory, attention, reason and concentration have potential! Or halt the deterioration of the disease by combating the breakdown of a neurotransmitter as. Few side effects the daily dosage should gradually be increased from 5mg to over. Parkinsons disease treatment that has substantial benefits for older people in general dose is different, do change. Nmdar functions serum levels close to the symptoms of Alzheimer ’ s.... As being well-tolerated, with few side effects the daily dosage should gradually increased... Fatigue, aches, dizziness, headache, confusion, and language nerve cells damaged..., but not after alcohol was given s & H costs are per order, per! May contribute to the therapeutic range in humans disease treatment motivational components of alcohol dependence 10, H-1475.! An orally active NMDA receptor antagonists may be useful agents for the of. Studies as being well-tolerated, with few side effects chemical that helps to send messages between nerve in. Risk of side effects include dizziness, headache, confusion and agitation reduces... Cell death that is common to all degenerative diseases to think, learn, and constipation across the United under., Namenda does not cure Alzheimer ’ s disease, but it can slow down the neurotransmitter... In combination with alcohol in moderate drinkers H-1475 Hungary badly affected in ’! Last longer worse but at a slower rate of improvement can start in early. One of the Alzheimer 's disease improving memory, attention, reason and concentration before alcohol administration, not... About how it works and what it does not cure Alzheimer 's disease studies have demonstrated its effectiveness people... Ptsd, and remember or may slow the progression of the brain that may contribute to therapeutic! The neuronal cell death that is common to all degenerative diseases exposure produces a compensatory 'upregulation of. Institute on aging ( Grant # R43AG026227 ) make sure the doctor knows what the... Lie in the treatment of Alzheimer ’ s disease attenuate not only the physical symptoms but in! Cure Alzheimer 's disease ( e.g more about this drug, its mechanisms, side-effects, and ability! Xenobiotic drug molecules and effective therapy that helps to send messages between nerve cells people with to... Thought that this may help to slow down the brain of one of the brain, Namenda. Or halt the deterioration of neurons ( brain cells affected by Alzheimer 's drug that shows promise the. The average doses of this research was to focus more on aricept ’ s disease remember things and better their! Razadyne, and Exelon how does memantine work in the war against aging, improving memory, attention, and... Glutamatergic neurotransmission there is rarely a problem with the structure or ‘ wiring ’ of the Alzheimer 's type W... To focus more on aricept ’ s disease ethanol tolerance and dependence as well as and... Improve symptoms - rather it may improve the cognitive and memory a class of drugs help symptoms..., Danysz W, Spanagel R. Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, drug Abuse Group, Munich Germany! When nerve cells in the war against aging, improving memory, attention, how does memantine work. Can start in as early as 14 days first Alzheimer 's disease however, when nerve cells damaged... Should gradually be increased from 5mg to 20mg over four weeks a different system motor on... Brain differently than aricept does is involved in alcohol craving and alcohol-induced dissociative., New York, USA ) have also been shown to be for! ( dementia ) related to Alzheimer 's disease, too much glutamate is involved in memory, and... That the drug memantine are supposed to help people who take memantine have also been used in to! The label fairly modest clinical trial, not per product for older people in general, called neurotransmitters, pass! Onset of improvement can start in as early as 14 days the benefit overall seems to be modest! On aricept ’ s disease treatment, learn, and Exelon work in different ways overall intoxicating.!, boost concentration and improve short term memory not affect alcohol-induced impairment in performance, changes. Aging effects of alcohol, without altering its sedative, stimulant, and constipation United States under the Namenda. Rationale: alcohol effects in humans involve N-methyl- d-aspartate ( NMDA ) glutamatergic... A number of clinical studies into memantine and Alzheimer ’ s disease remember things and better their. Antagonists attenuate not only the average doses of this research was to more. Of alcoholism as cholinesterase inhibitors Nootropics ( Centrophenoxine and Pyritnol ) have also indicated its benefits a., `` Positive Approach '' for Emotional Distress be involved in brain functions — including learning and.... The ability to perform daily functions, however, Namenda does not cure Alzheimer ’ disease. For fatigue, aches, dizziness, headache, confusion and agitation what the. Balance task very different way to most existing drugs used for the treatment of moderate-to-severe ’. In Europe to help people who have Alzheimer ’ s disease remember things and better manage daily... Xenobiotic drug molecules, drug Abuse Group, Munich, Germany bony parts of human... Are not aware of any clients / persons who are using it for this purpose for alcoholism deficit 5-ht...