Memantine User Reviews & Ratings

Brand names: Namenda, Namenda XR

Memantine has an average rating of 5.3 out of 10 from a total of 76 reviews on Drugs.com. 47% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 37% reported a negative experience.

Condition	Avg. Rating	Reviews	Compare
Alzheimer's Disease	4.7	61 reviews for Alzheimer's Disease	30 medications
Migraine Off-label	7.2	9 reviews for Migraine	89 medications
Autism Off-label	9.0	6 reviews for Autism	7 medications
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Reviews for Memantine

Melody
October 28, 2020

Namenda (memantine) for Alzheimer's Disease "Mother-in-law has Alzheimer’s and it was severe to where she went into a memory care. Once she started Namenda within second week it was like she was back to her old self. She was able to get up her her self dressed like she had did prior to the alzheimers. It was truly unbelievable. This medicine has given us more time with our loved one. She was active psychosis delusional, hallucinating 24/7. Unbelievable. I can not say enough good things about this medication. She was tired the first week but that was good rather to rest than to be awake delusional. Thinking she is ready for a increase where she is getting her nighttime/early morning bad dreams back again. But it has been 2 years since she started this medication. Please everyone please give this medication time to work. It is a miracle medicine. Give it at least 2 weeks same time daily. I read reviews and it can be a mess just after a few days. The med is fully working yet please give it another chance and more time. amazing"

10 / 10

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116 Report

Kitte...
Taken for 1 to 2 years
July 26, 2013

Namenda (memantine) for Alzheimer's Disease "My mother has been taking Namenda for Alzheimer's for over a year now. She was first prescribed Aricept which made her more anxious/hyperactive & no noticeable positive impact. After 2 weeks of Namenda, there was noticeable improvement in her cognitive abilities. In fact, the light bulb finally went off & she realized she had Alzheimer's. She spent the next several days on the phone breaking the news to family and friends, who had known for over 2 years by that time. My opinion: Namenda keeps her in 2013 - in the present. Her logic, reasoning, problem-solving skills, short term memory, comprehension and communication skills are impaired from the disease, but she recognizes this and acknowledges her feelings of confusion."

8 / 10

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204 Report

Andy
Taken for 1 to 6 months
December 21, 2020

For Autism "A life saver. I have autism. It is pretty bad autism. I saw help on day one. But it isn't a fix-it-all for me. Being able to understand nonverbal communication and verbal communication is huge improvements. This help me with social interaction. This help me with anxiety. Helps my expressive myself and respond better. Less meltdowns. Helps my cognitive functions Helps me think Helps my thought issue due to my autism and auditory processing disorder Helps me slow down my mind to pay attention more and can respond to changes and sensory problems. Not a full fix for me but huge help. I am more polite. I can talk about others interest not just my needs or wants or questions that I had trouble asking. Better behavior."

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84 Report

bill
January 3, 2020

Namenda (memantine) for Alzheimer's Disease "It was a wonderful drug for my mother, with dementia, at 77. They first prescribed Aricept, which caused nausea. Asking the doctor 'what other drug may work'? She recommended Nameda. It became a miracle. It did not rectify some of the mental losses, but she no longer experienced hallucinations (in jail; on a boat). It came at the end of the year when insurance wouldn't pay for the drug. So I waited for two weeks without drug to resume insurance at the first of the year. During this time she regressed mentally. As soon as I started it again, she improved-true testament. I was able to have my mom back for two years until stroke. I swear by Namenda for only my mother. I tell everyone. As with any drug, it may not work for others, but it was truly a God-send for my sweet mother. She and I were lucky."

10 / 10

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92 Report

Anonymous
April 6, 2012

Namenda (memantine) for Alzheimer's Disease "We started my Dad on Namenda and by day 2 he was more confused, lost and irritable than usual so my Mom stopped it. The Dr asked her to start again and the same day he experienced the same side effects so she stopped. Last week she decided to try it one more time to make sure. Dad was VERY confused and not easy to take care of. I guess he is just one of those people that can't take this medication. Too bad. It helps so many people."

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187 Report

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Joey
January 15, 2020

Namenda (memantine) for Alzheimer's Disease "Horrible drug! No help at all and they wanted my dad to take more! He just passed away from surgery complications but after being off it he was NORMAL. The doctor had him on so many meds, this being one along with Zoloft. These mind altering drugs are BAD! Also avoid Haldol. If you have a loved one PLEASE get them off these, I don't buy into these did wonders for my mom or dad, probably written by the drug companies reps. Watch the World News EVERY OTHER AD is a drug ad. The less you take the better. I'm sorry we gave these to my dad."

1 / 10

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83 Report

Leggy
Taken for 6 months to 1 year
January 29, 2021

For Alzheimer's Disease "My wife who has Vascular Dementia/ Alzheimer's Disease . She has tried this drug twice. First time she started on a low dose memantine and built up to 20mg. Her condition became worse over a period of time. I was not sure if this was a normal progression of her condition. We stopped the drugs and within two weeks she had settled down and things were more manageable. A year later we have tried the drug again on a low dose 5mg . The confusion became worse. So we have stopped them again. It is hard to know if there are any benefits from this drug in our experience."

1 / 10

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63 Report

Anonymous
Taken for 5 to 10 years
November 23, 2017

For Autism "My daughter started taking this at the age of 10. I had been told she would never read, graduate from school or be independent. She is now 15, Magna Cum Lauda with goals of becoming a forensic pathologist. She is involved in choir, student counsel and has a number of friends. It has made an overwhelming difference in the quality of her life and her ability to better control her compulsive behaviors"

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102 Report

carol...
Taken for 2 to 5 years
November 25, 2015

Namenda (memantine) for Alzheimer's Disease "I have taken it for about 4-5 yes. I feel able to cope pretty well considering. I live by myself and manage to do most things. I still have memory issues, but so do most people. I have been fortunate not to have had adverse effects of any consequence."

9 / 10

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121 Report

Surpr...
Taken for 1 to 6 months
April 16, 2021

Namenda (memantine) for Alzheimer's Disease "My father has significantly improved since taking Namenda and Aricept combined, as well as 24 caregiver support at home. We believe that the combination has helped dad's cognitive function not just by medication alone, but because he had companionship 24 hours a day. Dad was confused, always thought he was at work and wanted to go home. He forgot who we were and even made sexual moves towards people he would not have otherwise have when he did not have Alzheimers. The symptoms or behaviors he still has is occasional memory loss but very little, he is still paranoid and thinks people are stealing from him or going in his property when they are not, and he occasionally still sees people or animals that aren't there. But the confusion of who we were, where he was and the wandering and wanting to "go home" even when he was home is no longer an issue. My dad is only 73 and he was diagnosed last year with Alzheimer's."

10 / 10

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50 Report

daugh...
January 16, 2012

Namenda (memantine) for Alzheimer's Disease "My mother has been treated with the Exelon (patch) for two years now. Last month she was changed to Namenda. She has become irritable, aggressive/depressed and more confused than before. We are asking the doctor to switch back to Exelon."

2 / 10

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140 Report

CTano
Taken for 1 to 6 months
September 27, 2019

Namenda (memantine) for Alzheimer's Disease "My sister has Moderate Frontal Lone Alzheimer’s. She was extremely agitated, angry and weepy. She was withdrawing into herself and had little awareness of her surroundings and had difficulty with dressing and toileting. Literally after the first day of Namenda 20mg it was like someone turned the lights on. It’s been 2 months now and she is aware and able to go for walks by herself; dress herself and play the piano. Her memory and executive function continue to be poor. Nothing short of a miracle. Not sure how long this will last."

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63 Report

Daugh...
Taken for less than 1 month
March 1, 2016

Namenda (memantine) for Alzheimer's Disease "My mother has taken Namenda twice now. The first time she was so confuse after a week I stopped giving it to her. She has gotten worse over the years and for some reason her doctor had given me a new prescription for the same medicine. I tried it for two days and saw my mother become extremely confused so I stop giving it to her. I don't know why he insisted on Namenda after I told him it didn't work the first time."

1 / 10

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89 Report

Bob...
November 16, 2020

Namenda (memantine) for Alzheimer's Disease "My PCP put me on Namenda to supplement my Aricept for Alzheimer's Disease . Seems to help my short term memory. However my memory lapses happen every 2 weeks or so and only for a short period. When it is working I can think clearly. I'm 62 and thankful for this medication."

8 / 10

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45 Report

Anony...
January 12, 2013

For Autism "I was first prescribed this for Asperger's syndrome at the age of 24. I've been on numerous types of medications since I was a teenager, but this is the first one that I've been on that has significantly helped. My quality of life is much better, I don't have as many ruminating, obsessive thoughts that make me miserable."

8 / 10

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109 Report

Autis...
Taken for 1 to 6 months
January 30, 2020

For Autism "I take 20mg of Memantine for my slight autism! And this has been a miracle drug! It helps me in social interactions, I can recognize social cues and skills that I couldn't before! It also helps with my obsessive and aggressive problems! thank you to whoever made this drug"

10 / 10

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51 Report

Kerry...
August 10, 2013

Namenda (memantine) for Alzheimer's Disease "My mom is 94 we started her on this medication because she was confused to the point of argument mostly in the late afternoon till bed time. After 5 days of treatment she seamed to be worse starting when she wakes up. Not sure what to do except to call doctor on Monday to ask what we should do."

2 / 10

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99 Report

Ms Mc...
Taken for 1 to 2 years
September 11, 2017

Namenda (memantine) for Alzheimer's Disease "My mom has been on this medication for one year and her condition (Dementia) is getting worst. She's hallucinating, aggressive, and extremely confused. It's seems as if this medication is making things worst and speeding up the progress of the dementia. This drug should not be on the market. I will bring her to her Psychologist soon and I will be asking for this drug to be taken off her daily medication intake. Please say no to this drug."

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67 Report

Anony...
March 23, 2019

For Alzheimer's Disease "I haven't experienced this firsthand but I've been researching this drug thoroughly, and I am conflicted with it's efficiency. Of course, it will be a different reaction for everyone; not everyone is the same. And I don't know which is harder; treating for it and getting side effects, or not, and losing your memory. My heart goes out to every person who has to go through that, and their families as well."

5 / 10

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55 Report

1care...
October 16, 2014

Namenda (memantine) for Alzheimer's Disease "My wife (74) has been taking Namenda since the first diagnosis of Alzheimers two years ago. She also takes any supplement that promises to help retain or improve memory. Her memory has stayed about the same or gotten a little worse in that time. She has also taken Aricept during the same period."

6 / 10

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87 Report

Autie
Taken for 6 months to 1 year
February 11, 2019

For Autism "I take 10mg twice daily for autism spectrum disorder. It stops the intrusive thoughts, rumination, and repetitive thinking which is a Godsend. It also reduces repetitive behaviour/stereotypes. I haven't noticed any side effects, maybe a little brain fog, but that has disappeared with continued use."

10 / 10

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55 Report

SH ca...
Taken for 1 to 6 months
December 19, 2015

Namenda (memantine) for Alzheimer's Disease "My mother has been taking it for one month and her dementia - which was mild - has gotten worse. She is confused and thinks that my brother lives with her. She was taking samples as she cannot afford the medicine"

4 / 10

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77 Report

Momon...
Taken for 1 to 2 years
September 10, 2023

For Alzheimer's Disease "My 82 yr old mother has dementia and ended up on memantine 21mg ER. She was lathargic, dizzy and confused. We assumed it was just the progression of her disease. Her PCP suggested stopping the memantine. My mother improved for several days as the drug left her system (I read it has a half life of 100 hours.) After that she became confused again, lethargic and could barely speak. Adding the 21 mg back improved her condition for a while but she eventually ended up lethargic and confused again. Our conclusion from this was that the dosage was much too high. After a week with a single 5 mg tablet a day she is much more aware, is speaking in complete sentences and has been to getting out of her wheel chair and walking with a walker again. My advice is to monitor the patient taking this medication closely and do not allow doctors to rush to higher dosages."

7 / 10

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10 Report

bsandy
Taken for less than 1 month
June 27, 2014

Namenda XR (memantine) for Alzheimer's Disease "My wife began the 4 stage process a couple of months ago, and I stopped it halfway through week 2 because she seemed to be getting more confused. We started again a month ago and are into the 2nd full dose, and I am very concerned that her condition is worse instead of better."

1 / 10

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78 Report

KDDee
January 20, 2016

For Alzheimer's Disease "Both of my parents suffer (ed) from Alzheimer's. My mother died last summer, 8 years after her diagnosis and never took any medication except for Lorazapam. My Dad was diagnosed with Alzheimer's 6 months ago He began taking Ariecpt in November and Mamantadine in December. In five moths he has degenerated so rapidly that he is functioning at the same level as my mom was at in her last year of the disease. Every time the dose is increased he gets exponentially worse its noticeable almost daily. I am in the process of titration him off both. I wish I would have research it better. I thought that was the doctors job. This is the first online review I have written. Grateful to hear that I'm not imagining these side effects. Thanks"

2 / 10

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68 Report

Reviews may be edited to correct grammar/spelling or to remove inappropriate language and content. Reviews that appear to be created by parties with a vested interest are not published. This information is not intended to endorse any particular medication. While these reviews may be helpful, they are not a substitute for the expertise, knowledge, and judgement of healthcare professionals.