Memantine for Migraine User Reviews

• bus...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 7, 2013

"I began taking this medication on the recommendation of my neurologist for chronic migraines. I am currently taking Topamax and Elavil, and I am attempting to get off the Topamax because the neurologist felt it isn't helping any longer (I agree with her). I totally love the Namenda for my migraines! All I can say is if you are wanting to try something different, please do try this. I have virtually no side effects, maybe the dizziness if I had to pick one, but overall, it is working better than I could have ever hoped!"

• gpa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 25, 2018

"Very happy with this drug! I have tried a long list of supposed migraine prophylactic drugs over the last 15 years, but none have worked for me. Memantine is a game changer for me. I started at 5 mg and titrated up to 10 mg after a week. I very quickly began to see an effect with the 10 mg. The frequency of headaches was greatly reduced, and even the ones I did have were much milder, sometimes to the point that I didn't have to use my usual triptan. I am now at 15 mg for the last few weeks to see if I can get any further improvement. I have gone from having ~12 headaches a month to around 4 mild ones very quickly. I have no side effects that are apparent to me-a little burning in my legs for a few days when I increase the dose."

• Ron...
• April 12, 2016

"I have been taking Namenda for almost a year for migraines, and it has worked beautifully. When my pharmacy ran out, I said OK for the generic memantine made by Sunpharma. Big mistake. My headaches returned. Coincidence? I think not. I was able to get the insurance to approve a refill with brand-name Namenda and will resume that tomorrow."

• Tes...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 24, 2020

"I tried memantine for my migraines. It made me really dizzy, which I had already been struggling with after a concussion, and it made me feel drunk. My brain felt slow, my whole body felt heavy, and walking was really hard because of the dizziness. My period is also now 9 days late, and I know I'm not pregnant, and I have never missed a period in my life. I'm really glad this medication works so well for so many people, but the side effects were too much for me to handle."

• Han...
• December 18, 2021

"I have been suffering from migraines for the last 40 years. My neurologist just put me on memantine two weeks ago. I feel nauseated in the morning and have had some mild headaches for a few days when I change the dosage, but after that, I get better until I start the new dosage again. I started with 5 mg for one week and 10 mg for the second, now I started with 15 mg. The migraine is way better, still, the headache is there, but I didn't take any Maxalt since I started the memantine. I used to have 15-20 days of migraines every month. I can handle the headaches now. I will update this after a few months."

• Kel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 8, 2022

"I started at 5 mg memantine and worked my way up to 15 mg for migraines. The first few days my headaches were better, and I felt a little buzzed, but not in a terrible way (I could still function). By the time I got up to 15 mg, I had such bad vertigo I could hardly walk and felt like I was drugged. Side effects went away shortly after stopping it."

• Mig...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 2, 2023

"Memantine has been a godsend! I have had migraines since I was a child, which have become progressively worse with time. I developed a refractory migraine in 2021 and was on Topamax for 20 months. It either lost effectiveness or my migraine overpowered the positive effects of the medication. I was bedbound for 3 days due to severe pain and nausea. I started memantine and the pain subsided. Currently, most days on memantine, I don't feel migraine pain or when I do, it's bearable. I get a severe migraine about once every two weeks now and they are still whoppers. They come on suddenly and are incapacitating. I have to lie down immediately or I will throw up. Despite these, I'm still quite functional. I have tried many medications for migraines and they have all eventually stopped working. I hope that memantine continues to provide effective relief for a long time to come. I have experienced no noticeable side effects."

• Tif...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 1, 2023

"I take 10mg twice a day of Memantine. It helps decrease the severity of the migraine pain and duration. It also helps shorten the recovery time and symptoms. It also seems to be helping with my permanent post concussion symptoms. Lessen the 'hungover' effect I live with on a daily basis (I don't consume alcohol). It has also lessened the severity of movement migraines I get just from moving my head around. While it hasn't decreased migraine attacks, it has lessened severity and that makes an improvement in my life. Side effects would be hard for me to determine since post concussion syndrome exists. Definitely hope to be able to continue with this medication since Topamax was a complete mental nightmare for me."

• Jim...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 26, 2022

"I have been on memantine for a few years now, started the 5 mg, then to 10 mg. For me it has been a daily prevention medication. I still get some pre-migraine starts, but they go away in a short time. It's not the cure-all for me, though, but it does help a lot."

• Wal...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 18, 2025

"They need to add difficulty speaking and slurring your words. When I first took memantine, it really freaked me out, with dizziness, difficulty speaking, instability (walking), and confusion. The side effects eventually subsided. Now I’ve been on it for 11 months. The first six months were a game changer, now its effectiveness has begun to wane. I’m going to talk with my doc about medications for severe headaches/chronic pain and memory loss that are not psychotropics."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 9, 2024

"It's working to rid my headaches. I'm feeling confused and have hypertension; however, I don't know if it's related to the medication yet."

• Nan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 3, 2024

"I began taking memantine this summer to help prevent chronic daily migraines. It seems to be helping, and I can’t say I’ve been bothered by side effects."