Namenda XR (Memantine Hydrochloride Extended Release Capsules) Drug Information: Description, User Reviews, Drug Side Effects, Interactions

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May 27, 2012

Namenda XR

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Dementia is a syndrome characterized by:

impairment in memory,

impairment in another area of thinking such as the ability to organize thoughts and reason, the ability to use language, or the ability to see accurately the visual world (not because of eye disease), and

these impairments are severe enough to cause a decline in the patient's usual level of functioning.

Although some kinds of memory loss are normal parts of aging, the changes due to aging are not severe enough to interfere with the level of function. Many different diseases can cause dementia, but Alzheimer's disease is by far the most common cause for dementia in the United States and in most countries in the world.

What is Alzheimer's disease?

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a slowly progressive disease of the brain that is characterized by impairment of memory and eventually by dist...

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NAMENDA XR
(memantine hydrochloride) Extended Release Capsules

DRUG DESCRIPTION

NAMENDA XR is an orally active NMDA receptor antagonist. The chemical name for memantine hydrochloride is 1-amino-3,5-dimethyladamantane hydrochloride with the following structural formula:

NAMENDA XR
(memantine hydrochloride) Structural Formula Illustration

The molecular formula is C₁₂H₂₁N•HCl and the molecular weight is 215.76. Memantine HCl occurs as a fine white to off-white powder and is soluble in water.

NAMENDA XR (memantine hydrochloride extended release capsules) capsules are supplied for oral administration as 7, 14, 21 and 28 mg capsules (see HOW SUPPLIED). Each capsule contains extended release beads with the labeled amount of memantine HCl and the following inactive ingredients: sugar spheres, polyvinylpyrrolidone, hypromellose, talc, polyethylene glycol, ethylcellulose, ammonium hydroxide, oleic acid, and medium chain triglycerides in hard gelatin capsules.

Last reviewed on RxList: 7/22/2010
This monograph has been modified to include the generic and brand name in many instances.