Effectiveness of Namenda: It’s Dosage & Side Effects

Some of Namenda’s side effects can include impaired reaction time or jumbled thoughts. Caution should be exercised before you drive a car or place yourself in a situation where you need to be especially alert and awake.

Namenda effectively works in the brain to reduce chemical action that could contribute to Alzheimer’s disease symptoms. Namenda is used for treatment of Alzheimer’s type dementia.

Before the use of Namenda, you should tell your physician if you have:

• Any drug allergies.
• Kidney or bladder infection.
• Seizure disorder.
• Liver or kidney disease.
• Cataracts.

Avoid taking Namenda if you have had a bad reaction to it. To promote the safe use of Namenda, please tell your physician if you have any of the following:

• Epilepsy or another seizure disorder.
• Kidney or bladder infection.
• Liver disorder.
• Problems with urination.
• Kidney disorder.
• Bladder infection.

It is not anticipated that Namenda has an impact on an unborn child. It is important to tell your physician if you are planning to become pregnant or are pregnant. Namenda has not been shown to interact with breast milk or harm the infant through nursing. However, it is important to tell your physician if you are breastfeeding.

It is important to take Namenda precisely as instructed by your physician. You should refer to the prescription label on the bottle for dosing instructions. While you are using Namenda, your physician may alter the dose to provide more effective treatment or reduce side effects. It is important that you avoid changing to dosing schedule on your own without following your physician’s instructions.

Food has no impact on Namenda.

Swallow the capsule whole. Never chew or break a capsule.

You may open a capsule to empty the powder in a spoonful of pudding or applesauce if you have difficulty swallowing Namenda. In this case, swallow the mixture immediately. This should not be mixed and stored for later usage.

If the Namenda you receive is a liquid, you should use the measuring syringe provided with the medication or a specialized spoon for measuring medication. You may also use a medication cup. If you don’t have a device for appropriate medication measurement, simply ask for one from your pharmacist.

If you are using liquid Namenda, only use it with water and not with any other liquid medication.

To care for the syringe or measuring device, rinse it in clean water and let the open air dry it before each use.

It is important to use Namenda according to the instructions from your physician and prescription label. Be sure to get a renewal of your Namenda before you run out of the medication to allow a continuum of care.

Your progress should be closely followed by your physician.

You should store Namenda at normal temperature and avoid exposing it to moisture or heat. If you are using the liquid, remove the dosing tool and close the bottle with its original cap.

Closely read all instruction sheets, patient information, and guidelines for usage provided by your physician or pharmacist. Bring any questions you may have to the attention of your medical provider.

• Namenda Immediate Release
• Initial Dosage: 5 milligrams by mouth once per day moving up in 5 mg increments weekly.
• Maintenance Dosage: 5 milligrams daily but no more than 10 milligrams twice daily.
• Maximum Dosage: 28 milligrams by mouth daily.
• Namenda Extended Release
• Initial Dosage: 7 milligrams by mouth daily then no more than 7 milligrams weekly.
• Maintenance Dosage: 7 milligrams daily but no more than 28 milligrams daily.
• Maximum Dosage: 28 milligrams by mouth daily.
• Medical Indication: Treatment of moderate-to-severe Alzheimer’s type dementia.

Signs of an allergy to Namenda that require emergency assistance include:

• Hives
• Swelling of the throat, tongue, face, or lips
• Problems breathing

Contact your physician immediately for the following severe side effects of Namenda:

• Headache
• Mood changes
• Blurry vision
• Behavior changes
• Pounding sensation in the ears or neck
• Convulsions
• More common Namenda side effects include:
• Headache
• Diarrhea is also a side effect of Namenda
• Dizziness

Again, it is crucial to tell your physician all medications you are taking or have taken in the recent past. This is especially true for:

• Amantadine
• Zonisamide
• Medicines that contain dextromethorphan
  • Delsym
  • Vicks 44
  • Maximum strength Robitussin
• Medicines promoting the growth of alkaline in the urine
  • Sodium bicarbonate
  • Citrolith
  • Potassium citrate
  • Sodium citrate
  • Bicitra
  • Oracit
• Prescriptions for glaucoma
  • Acetazolamide
  • Methazolamide