Memantine Risks, Warnings, and Complications

Precautions Before Starting Memantine

Tell your doctor if you have had an allergic reaction to memantine, any of the active or inactive ingredients in memantine tablets, capsules, oral solution, or any other medications. Your pharmacy can give you a list of ingredients.

Give your doctor a complete medical history. Memantine may not be right for people with certain medical conditions such as a seizure disorder, severe renal impairment, difficulty urinating, urinary tract infections, or liver disease.

Give your doctor and pharmacist a complete list of your medications, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, supplements, and herbal products. This can help avoid possible drug interactions. 

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, could be pregnant, are planning a pregnancy, or are breastfeeding. It is not known if this drug passes into breast milk and its effects in infants are unknown.

Precautions During Use of Memantine

Keep all your doctor’s appointments while taking memantine. Your doctor will probably advise gradual dose increases for this medicine. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you do not understand the dosage adjustment schedule.

Tell your doctor if you develop a urinary tract infection during memantine treatment.

Call your doctor if you become pregnant while on this medicine.

Tell all your doctors you are on memantine before any surgery, including dental procedures.

Memantine Drug Interactions

Certain other drugs can affect how memantine works. Possible interactions between memantine and other medicines can increase the risk of severe adverse effects. The following medications can have possible interactions with memantine: 

• Glaucoma medications like acetazolamide (Diamox) and methazolamide (Neptazane)
• Parkinson’s medications like amantadine
• Cough and cold medicines like dextromethorphan (Robitussin, others)
• Antacids like sodium bicarbonate (Soda Mint, baking soda)
• Medications used to make urine more alkaline and less acidic, such as sodium citrate and citric acid (Oracit, Bicitra) and potassium citrate and citric acid (Polycitra-K, Cytra-K)

The above list may not describe all possible interactions of memantine. Give your doctor or pharmacist a complete list of your medications, including prescription drugs, OTC medications, dietary supplements, and herbal remedies. Also, tell your healthcare professional if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use recreational drugs because some of these substances can cause serious health complications when used with prescription medications.