(memantine hydrochloride) film-coated tablet
Consumer Medicine Information
What is in this leaflet
This leaflet contains answers to some common questions about Memantine generichealth.
It does not contain all the information that is known about Memantine generichealth. It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.
All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risk of you using this medicine against the benefits he/she expects it will have for you.
If you have any concerns about using this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Keep this leaflet with the medicine. You may need to read it again.
What Memantine generichealth is used for
Memantine generichealth is used to treat moderately severe to severe Alzheimer’s disease (AD). AD can be described as a general decline in all areas of mental ability.
Memantine belongs to a group of medicines called N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists. It is thought to work by protecting NMDA receptors in the brain against high levels of the chemical glutamate, which could be the cause of brain degeneration. NMDA receptors are involved in the transmission of nerve signals within the brain, eg. in learning and memory.
Memantine generichealth should improve your thinking capacity and your ability to remember.
Your doctor, however, may prescribe it for another purpose.
Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why it has been prescribed for you.
This medicine is only available with a doctor’s prescription. Memantine generichealth are not addictive.
Before you take Memantine generichealth
When you must not take it
Do not take Memantine generichealth if you are allergic to it or any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet.
Symptoms of an allergic reaction may include shortness of breath, wheezing or difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body, or rash, itching or hives on the skin.
Do not take Memantine generichealth if you have a seizure disorder or any history of seizures (fits or epilepsy).
Do not take it after the expiry date printed on the pack. If you take it after the expiry date has passed, it may not work as well. The expiry date refers to the last day of the month.
Do not take it if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering.
Before you start to take it
Tell your doctor if:
- You have allergies to any other substances such as foods, preservatives or dyes.
- You are pregnant or intend to become pregnant.
Memantine generichealth is not recommended to be used during pregnancy. Your doctor will discuss the risks and benefits of using it if you are pregnant. - You are breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed.
It is not known whether Memantine generichealth passes into breast milk. Due to the possibility that their baby might be affected, women taking Memantine generichealth should not breastfeed. - You have, or have had, the following medical conditions:
– a history of epileptic seizures or convulsions;
– kidney problems;
– severe bladder infection;
– severe liver problems;
– heart or blood vessel problems;
– high blood pressure. - You smoke.
Also tell your doctor if you have recently changed your diet or intend to change your diet substantially, for example if you wish to become a vegetarian. Your doctor may need to adjust the dose.
Tell your doctor if you are hypersensitive to memantine, the active substance in Memantine generichealth.
Do not give Memantine generichealth to a child or adolescent under 18 years old.
If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell them before you use Memantine generichealth.
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines, including any that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.
Some medicines and Memantine generichealth may interfere with each other. These include:
- medicines used to treat stomach cramps or spasms, or travel sickness (anticholinergics);
- atropine, a medicine used in some eye drops;
- levodopa, bromocriptine, amantadine and other medicines for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease;
- anticonvulsants and barbiturates, used to treat epilepsy or fits;
- ketamine, an anaesthetic agent;
- medicines used to treat certain mental and emotional conditions (psychoses or schizophrenia);
- dantrolene and baclofen, used to treat leg cramps or to relax muscles;
- dextromethorphan, contained in cough, cold and flu medicines;
- quinidine and procainamide, used to treat irregular heart beat;
- nicotine, contained in patches or gums to treat smoking addiction;
- cimetidine and ranitidine, used to treat stomach ulcers or reflux;
- urinary alkalinisers, used to treat urinary tract infection;
- quinine, a medicine used to treat malaria;
- warfarin, used to prevent blood clots.
These medicines may be affected by Memantine generichealth or may affect how well it works. You may need to use different amounts of your medicines, or take different medicines. Your doctor will advise you.
Your doctor or pharmacist has more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while taking Memantine generichealth.
How to take Memantine generichealth
How much to take
The standard dose for this medicine is 20 mg per day.
Your doctor will decide what dose you will receive. This depends on your condition and other factors, such as your weight and your response to the medicine.
Your doctor will start you on smaller doses which will be gradually increased for three weeks until the dose is reached where Memantine generichealth work best for you.
Week 1 (5 mg per day)
- Take half a tablet of 10 mg once a day.
Week 2 (10 mg per day)
- Take 10 mg tablet once a day.
Week 3 (15 mg per day)
- Take one and a half 10 mg once a day.
From Week 4 onward (20 mg per day)
- Take one 20 mg tablet once a day.
Your doctor may have prescribed a different dose.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you are unsure of the correct dose for you. They will tell you exactly how much to take.
Follow the instructions they give you.
If you take the wrong dose, Memantine generichealth may not work as well and your condition may not improve.
How to take it
Swallow the tablets whole with a full glass of water. Do not chew them.
When to take it
Take Memantine generichealth as a single dose either in the morning or in the evening.
Take Memantine generichealth with or without food.
How long to take it
Continue taking your medicine for as long as your doctor tells you to.
Memantine generichealth helps control your condition, but does not cure it. Your doctor will assess your treatment on a regular basis.
If you forget to take it
If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take the next dose when you are meant to.
Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose you have missed.
If there is still a long time to go before your next dose, take it as soon as you remember, and then go back to taking it as you would normally.
If you are not sure what to do, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
If you have trouble remembering when to take your medicine, ask your pharmacist for hints.
If you take too much (overdose)
Immediately telephone your doctor, or the Poisons Information Centre (telephone 13 11 26 for Australia), or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital, if you think you or anyone else may have taken too much Memantine generichealth.
Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. You may need urgent medical attention.
Symptoms of an overdose may include feeling dizzy, tired or having a headache. You may feel confused and see, feel or hear things that are not there. You could also have a seizure.
While you are taking Memantine generichealth
Things you must do
If you are about to be started on any new medicine, remind your doctor and pharmacist that you are taking Memantine generichealth.
Tell any other doctors, dentists and pharmacists who treat you that you are taking this medicine.
If you become pregnant while taking Memantine generichealth, tell your doctor immediately.
Tell your doctor immediately if you are feeling depressed or have any suicidal thoughts. Alzheimer’s disease has been associated with depression and thoughts of suicide. All mentions of suicide or violence by a patient must be taken seriously.
If you or someone you know demonstrates suicide-related behaviour while taking Memantine generichealth, contact a health care provider immediately, or even go to the nearest hospital for treatment.
Things you must not do
Do not give the tablets to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as you.
Do not take Memantine generichealth to treat any other complaints unless your doctor tells you to.
Do not stop taking Memantine generichealth, or lower the dosage, without checking with your doctor.
Things to be careful of
If you drive a motor vehicle or operate machinery, ask your doctor whether you should continue to do so. Your doctor will discuss with you whether your condition allows you to drive or operate machinery safely.
Furthermore, Memantine generichealth may change your reactivity which may make driving or using machinery inappropriate.
Side effects
All medicines may have some unwanted side effects. Sometimes they are serious, but most of the time they are not. Your doctor has weighed the risks of using this medicine against the benefits he/she expects it will have for you.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking Memantine generichealth.
It helps most people with moderately severe to severe Alzheimer’s disease, but it may have unwanted side effects in a few people.
Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following and they worry you:
- tiredness, sleepiness, sleeplessness, or problems sleeping;
- dizziness or feeling off balance;
- diarrhoea, vomiting, or nausea;
- loss of appetite;
- feeling anxious;
- conjunctivitis.
These are mild side effects of the medicine.
Memantine generichealth may cause inflammation of the liver and/or changes in liver function tests.
Tell your doctor as soon as possible if you notice any of the following:
- swelling of hands, ankles or feet;
- headache;
- feeling confused;
- seeing, feeling or hearing things that are not there;
- having fixed, irrational ideas that are not shared by others.
These may be serious side effects of Memantine generichealth. You may need urgent medical attention.
If you are an epileptic, Memantine generichealth could increase the chance of a fit occurring.
Tell your doctor immediately, or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital, if you notice any of the following:
- serious allergic reaction (symptoms of an allergic reaction may include swelling of the face, lips, mouth or throat which may cause difficulty in swallowing or breathing, or hives).
This is a very serious side effect.
You may need urgent medical attention or hospitalisation. This side effect is very rare.
Tell your doctor if you notice anything else that is making you feel unwell. Other side effects not listed above may occur in some people.
Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects. You may not experience any of them.
After taking Memantine generichealth
Storage
Keep Memantine generichealth in the blister pack until it is time to take them. If you take the tablets out of the box or the blister pack they may not keep well.
Keep the medicine in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 25°C.
Do not store Memantine generichealth or any other medicine in the bathroom, near a sink, or on a window-sill.
Do not leave it in the car. Heat and damp can destroy some medicines.
Keep it where children cannot reach it. A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.
Disposal
If your doctor tells you to stop taking the tablets, or the tablets have passed their expiry date, ask your pharmacist what to do with any that are left over.
Return any unused medicine to your pharmacist.
Product description
What it looks like
Memantine generichealth 5 mg are white to off white coloured, capsule shaped, biconvex, film coated tablets, debossed with ‘5’ on one side and plain on other side.
Memantine generichealth 10 mg are white to off white coloured, oval shaped, film coated tablets debossed with ‘10’ on one side and ‘scoreline’ on the other side.
Memantine generichealth 15 m are mustard yellow coloured, oval shaped, film-coated tablets, debossed with ‘15’ on one side and plain on other side.
Memantine generichealth 20 mg are brownish pink coloured, oval shaped, film coated tablets debossed with ‘20’ on one side and ‘scoreline’ on the other side.
A box contains 56 tablets.
Ingredients
Active ingredient
Each Memantine generichealth tablet contains 5 mg, 10 mg, 15 mg or 20 mg memantine (as hydrochloride).
Other ingredients
- microcrystalline cellulose;
- croscarmellose sodium;
- purified talc;
- magnesium stearate;
- colloidal anhydrous silica.
Coating agents:
For 5 mg and 10 mg tablets: Opadry complete film coating system 03B28796 White (contains hypromellose, titanium dioxide and macrogol 400).
For 15 mg tablets: Opadry complete film coating system 03B82943 Yellow (contains hypromellose, titanium dioxide, macrogol 400 and iron oxide yellow).
For 20 mg tablets: Opadry complete film coating system 03B84713 Pink (contains hypromellose, titanium dioxide, macrogol 400 and iron oxide red).
Memantine generichealth do not contain gluten, sucrose, tartrazine or any other azo dyes.
Australian Registration Numbers
Memantine generichealth 5 mg: AUST R 168424.
Memantine generichealth 10 mg: AUST R 168425.
Memantine generichealth 15 mg: AUST R 168426.
Memantine generichealth 20 mg: AUST R 168427.
Distributor
Generic Health Pty Ltd
Suite 2, Level 2
19-23 Prospect Street
Box Hill, VIC, 3128
Australia
E-mail: ghinfo@generichealth.com.au
Telephone: +61 3 9809 7900
Website: www.generichealth.com.au
This leaflet was prepared in May 2021.
Published by MIMS July 2021