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memantine hydrochloride
Overview
Active ingredients
Source: NDC DirectoryForms, strengths and routes
Source: NDC DirectoryPharmacologic classes are listed in the class section below.
Pharmacologic class
Source: NDC Directory| Class | Type | Browse |
|---|---|---|
| N-methyl-D-aspartate Receptor Antagonist [EPC] | EPC | All 10 members |
| NMDA Receptor Antagonists [MoA] | MoA | All 10 members |
Regulatory status
Source: Drugs@FDANDC Directory| Product | Trade name | Form | Strength | Ingredient | Status | TE | Flags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 200891-001 | MEMANTINE HYDROCHLORIDE | TABLET | MEMANTINE HYDROCHLORIDE | Prescription | AB | ||
| 200891-002 | MEMANTINE HYDROCHLORIDE | TABLET | MEMANTINE HYDROCHLORIDE | Prescription | AB |
Therapeutic equivalence
Source: Orange BookWhat this rating means: Therapeutically equivalent — bioequivalence demonstrated by in vivo or in vitro testing
Codes beginning with “A” indicate products the FDA considers therapeutically equivalent. Codes beginning with “B” indicate bioequivalence has not been established. See methodology.
Approval history
Source: Drugs@FDA| Type | No. | Action | Status | Date | Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Supplement | 6 | Labeling | Approved | May 31, 2019 | Standard |
| Original application | 1 | Not Applicable | Approved | October 13, 2015 | — |
Prescribing information
Source: openFDA Drug LabelingReproduced verbatim from the Structured Product Labeling submitted to the FDA (effective 20230130). This is the manufacturer's labelling text, not a summary and not advice.
Indications and Usage
openFDA Drug Labeling1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE Memantine hydrochloride is indiacted for the treatment of moderate to severe dementia of the Alzheimer's type. Memantine hydrochloride is an N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)receptor antagonist indicated for the treatment of moderate to severe dementia of the Alzheimer's type
Dosage and Administration
openFDA Drug Labeling2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION The recommended starting dose of memantine hydrochloride is 5 mg once daily. The dose should be increased in 5 mg increments to 10 mg/day (5 mg twice daily), 15 mg/day (5 mg and 10 mg as separate doses), and 20 mg/day (10 mg twice daily). The minimum recommended interval between dose increases is one week. The dosage shown to be effective in controlled clinical trials is 20 mg/day. Memantine hydrochloride can be taken with or without food. If a patient misses a single dose of memantine hydrochloride, that patient should not double up on the next dose. The next dose should be taken as scheduled. If a patient fails to take memantine hydrochloride for several days, dosing may need to be resumed at lower doses and retitrated as described above. Specific Populations Renal Impairment A target dose of 5 mg twice daily is recommended in patients with severe renal impairment (creatinine clearance of 5 to 29 mL/min based on the Cockcroft-Gault equation). Hepatic Impairment Memantine hydrochloride should be administered with caution to patients with severe hepatic impairment [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)] . May be taken with or without food. (2) Initial dose is 5 mg once daily. Increase dose in 5 mg increments to a maintenance dose of 10 mg twice daily. A minimum of 1 week of treatment with the previous dose should be observed before increasing the dose. (2) Severe renal impairment: recommended dose is 5 mg twice daily. (2)
Dosage Forms and Strengths
openFDA Drug Labeling3 DOSAGE FORMS AND STRENGTHS Memantine hydrochloride5 mg tablets are orange colored, capsule shaped, film coated tablets, debossed with ‘211’ on one side and plain on other side. Memantine hydrochloride 10 mg tablets are light gray colored, capsule shaped, film coated tablets, debossed with ‘L212’ on one side and plain on other side. Tablets: 5 mg and 10 mg (3)
Contraindications
openFDA Drug Labeling4 CONTRAINDICATIONS Memantine hydrochloride is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to memantine hydrochloride or to any excipients used in the formulation. Memantine hydrochloride is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to memantine hydrochloride or to any excipients used in the formulation. (4)
Warnings and Cautions
openFDA Drug Labeling5 WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS Conditions that raise urine pH may decrease the urinary elimination of memantine, resulting in increased plasma levels of memantine. (5.1, 7.1) 5.1 Genitourinary Conditions Conditions that raise urine pH may decrease the urinary elimination of memantine resulting in increased plasma levels of memantine [see Drug Interactions (7.1)] .
Adverse Reactions
openFDA Drug Labeling6 ADVERSE REACTIONS Most common adverse reactions (≥5 % and greater than placebo) are dizziness, headache, confusion and constipation. (6.1) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Alembic Pharmaceuticals Limited at 1-866-210-9797 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch . 6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Memantine hydrochloride was evaluated in eight double-blind placebo-controlled trials involving a total of 1862 dementia (Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia) patients (940 patients treated with memantine hydrochloride and 922 patients treated with placebo) for a treatment period up to 28 weeks. Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in clinical practice. Adverse Events Leading to Discontinuation In placebo-controlled trials in which dementia patients received doses of memantine hydrochloride up to 20 mg/day, the likelihood of discontinuation because of an adverse reaction was the same in the memantine hydrochloride group (10.1%) as in the placebo group (11.5%). No individual adverse reaction was associated with the discontinuation of treatment in 1% or more of memantine hydrochloride-treated patients and at a rate greater than placebo. Most Common Adverse Reactions In double-blind placebo-controlled trials involving dementia patients, the most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥5% and higher than placebo) in patients treated with memantine hydrochloride were dizziness, headache, confusion and constipation. Table 1 lists all adverse reactions that occurred in at least 2% of patients treated with memantine hydrochloride and at an incidence greater than placebo. Table 1: Adverse Reactions Reported in Controlled Clinical Trials in at Least 2% of Patients Receiving M emantine Hydrochloride and at a Higher Frequency than Placebo-treated Patients Adverse Reaction Placebo (N = 922) % Memantine Hydrochloride (N = 940) % Body as a Whole Fatigue 1 2 Pain 1 3 Cardiovascular System Hypertension 2 4 Central and Peripheral Nervous System Dizziness 5 7 Headache 3 6 Gastrointestinal System Constipation 3 5 Vomiting 2 3 Musculoskeletal System Back pain 2 3 Psychiatric Disorders Confusion 5 6 Somnolence 2 3 Hallucination 2 3 Respiratory System Coughing 3 4 Dyspnea 1 2 The overall profile of adverse reactions and the incidence rates for individual adverse reactions in the subpopulation of patients with moderate to severe Alzheimer’s disease were not different from the profile and incidence rates described above for the overall dementia population. Seizures Memantine hydrochloride has not been systematically evaluated in patients with a seizure disorder. In clinical trials of memantine hydrochloride, seizures occurred in 0.2% of patients treated with memantine hydrochloride and 0.5% of patients treated with placebo. 6.2 Postmarketing Experience The following adverse reactions have been identified during post-approval use of memantine. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure. These reactions include: Blood and Lymphatic System Disorders -agranulocytosis, leukopenia (including neutropenia), pancytopenia, thrombocytopenia, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. Cardiac Disorders -cardiac failure congestive. Gastrointestinal Disorders -pancreatitis. Hepatobiliary Disorders – hepatitis. Psychiatric Disorders -suicidal ideation. Renal and Urinary Disorders -acute renal failure (including increased creatinine and renal insufficiency). Skin Disorders -Stevens Johnson syndrome.
Drug Interactions
openFDA Drug Labeling7 DRUG INTERACTIONS 7.1 Drugs that Make the Urine Alkaline The clearance of memantine was reduced by about 80% under alkaline urine conditions at pH 8. Therefore, alterations of urine pH towards the alkaline condition may lead to an accumulation of the drug with a possible increase in adverse effects. Urine pH is altered by diet, drugs (e.g. carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, sodium bicarbonate) and clinical state of the patient (e.g. renal tubular acidosis or severe infections of the urinary tract). Hence, memantine should be used with caution under these conditions. 7.2 Use with Other N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) Antagonists The combined use of memantine hydrochloride with other NMDA antagonists (amantadine, ketamine, and dextromethorphan) has not been systematically evaluated and such use should be approached with caution.
Use in Specific Populations
openFDA Drug Labeling8 USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS 8.1 Pregnancy Risk Summary There are no adequate data on the developmental risk associated with the use of memantine hydrochloride in pregnant women. Adverse developmental effects (decreased body weight, and skeletal ossification) were observed in the offspring of rats administered memantine during pregnancy at doses associated with minimal maternal toxicity. These doses are higher than those used in humans at the maximum recommended daily dose of memantine hydrochloride [see Data]. In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2 to 4% and 15 to 20%, respectively. The background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown. Data Animal Data Oral administration of memantine (0, 2, 6, or 18 mg/kg/day) to rats during the period of organogenesis resulted in decreased skeletal ossification in fetuses at the highest dose tested. The higher no-effect dose for adverse developmental effects (6 mg/kg) is 3 times the maximum recommended human daily dose (MRHD) of memantine hydrochloride (20 mg) on a body surface area (mg/m 2 ) basis. Oral administration of memantine to rabbits (0, 3, 10, or 30 mg/kg/day) during the period of organogenesis resulted in no adverse developmental effects. The highest dose tested is approximately 30 times the MRHD of memantine hydrochloride on a mg/m 2 basis. In rats, memantine (0, 2, 6, or 18 mg/kg/day) was administered orally prior to and throughout mating and, in females, through the period of organogenesis or continuing throughout lactation to weaning. Decreased skeletal ossification in fetuses and decreased body weight in pups were observed at the highest dose tested. The higher no-effect dose for adverse developmental effects (6 mg/kg/day) is 3 times the MRHD of memantine hydrochloride on a mg/m 2 basis. Oral administration of memantine (0, 2, 6, or 18 mg/kg/day) to rats from late gestation throughout lactation to weaning, resulted in decreased pup weights at the highest dose tested. The higher no-effect dose (6 mg/kg/day) is approximately 3 times the MRHD of memantine hydrochloride on a mg/m 2 basis. 8.2 Lactation Risk Summary There are no data on the presence of memantine in human milk, the effects on the breastfed infant, or the effects of memantine hydrochloride on milk production. The developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mother’s clinical need for memantine hydrochloride and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed infant from memantine hydrochloride or from the underlying maternal condition. 8.4 Pediatric Use Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients have not been established. Memantine failed to demonstrate efficacy in two 12-week controlled clinical studies of 578 pediatric patients aged 6 to 12 years with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), including autism, Asperger’s disorder and Pervasive Development Disorder - Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS). Memantine has not been studied in pediatric patients under 6 years of age or over 12 years of age. Memantine treatment was initiated at 3 mg/day and the dose was escalated to the target dose (weight-based) by week 6. Oral doses of memantine 3, 6, 9, or 15 mg extended-release capsules were administered once daily to patients with weights < 20 kg, 20 to 39 kg, 40 to 59 kg and ≥ 60 kg, respectively. In a randomized, 12-week double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel study (Study A) in patients with autism, there was no statistically significant difference in the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) total raw score between patients randomized to memantine (n=54) and those randomized to placebo (n=53). In a 12-week responder-enriched randomized withdrawal study (Study B) in 471 patients with ASD, there was no statistically significant difference in the loss of therapeutic response rates between patients randomized to remain on full-dose meman …
Mechanism of Action
openFDA Drug Labeling12.1 Mechanism of Action Persistent activation of central nervous system N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors by the excitatory amino acid glutamate has been hypothesized to contribute to the symptomatology of Alzheimer’s disease. Memantine is postulated to exert its therapeutic effect through its action as a low to moderate affinity uncompetitive (open-channel) NMDA receptor antagonist which binds preferentially to the NMDA receptor-operated cation channels. There is no evidence that memantine prevents or slows neurodegeneration in patients with Alzheimer’s disease.
Description
openFDA Drug Labeling11 DESCRIPTION Memantine hydrochloride 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: The molecular formula is C 12 H 21 N•HCl and the molecular weight is 215.76. Memantine hydrochloride occurs as a fine white to off-white powder and is soluble in methanol and sparingly soluble in water. Memantine hydrochloride is available as tablets. Memantine hydrochloride is available for oral administration as capsule-shaped, film-coated tablets containing 5 mg and 10 mg of memantine hydrochloride. The tablets also contain the following inactive ingredients: microcrystalline cellulose, lactose monohydrate, colloidal silicon dioxide, talc, croscarmellose sodium, and magnesium stearate. In addition the following inactive ingredients are also present as components of the film coat: hypromellose, titanium dioxide, macrogol/polyethylene glycol 400, FD&C yellow #6 aluminum lake and FD&C blue #2 aluminum lake (5 mg tablets), and hypromellose, titanium dioxide, macrogol/polyethylene glycol 400 and iron oxide black (10 mg tablets). Structure
Overdosage
openFDA Drug Labeling10 OVERDOSAGE Signs and symptoms most often accompanying memantine overdosage in clinical trials and from worldwide marketing experience, alone or in combination with other drugs and/or alcohol, include agitation, asthenia, bradycardia, confusion, coma, dizziness, ECG changes, increased blood pressure, lethargy, loss of consciousness, psychosis, restlessness, slowed movement, somnolence, stupor, unsteady gait, visual hallucinations, vertigo, vomiting, and weakness. The largest known ingestion of memantine worldwide was 2 grams in a patient who took memantine in conjunction with unspecified antidiabetic medications. The patient experienced coma, diplopia, and agitation, but subsequently recovered. Fatal outcome has been very rarely reported with memantine, and the relationship to memantine was unclear. Because strategies for the management of overdose are continually evolving, it is advisable to contact a poison control center to determine the latest recommendations for the management of an overdose of any drug. As in any cases of overdose, general supportive measures should be utilized, and treatment should be symptomatic. Elimination of memantine can be enhanced by acidification of urine.
How Supplied / Storage and Handling
openFDA Drug Labeling16 HOW SUPPLIED/STORAGE AND HANDLING Memantine Hydrochloride Tablets USP, 5 mg are supplied as orange colored, capsule shaped, film coated tablets, debossed with ‘211’ on one side and plain on other side. NDC 62332-075-20 bottle of 20 tablets NDC 62332-075-30 bottle of 30 tablets NDC 62332-075-60 bottle of 60 tablets NDC 62332-075-31 bottle of 100 tablets NDC 62332-075-91 bottle of 1000 tablets NDC 62332-075-42 bottle of 3000 tablets NDC 62332-075-10 10 x 10 Unit dose Memantine Hydrochloride Tablets USP, 10 mg are supplied as light gray colored, capsule shaped, film coated tablets, debossed with ‘L212’ on one side and plain on other side. NDC 62332-076-20 bottle of 20 tablets NDC 62332-076-30 bottle of 30 tablets NDC 62332-076-60 bottle of 60 tablets NDC 62332-076-31 bottle of 100 tablets NDC 62332-076-71 bottle of 500 tablets NDC 62332-076-42 bottle of 3000 tablets NDC 62332-076-10 10 x 10 Unit dose Store at 25°C (77°F); excursions permitted to 15°C to 30°C (59°F to 86°F) [see USP Controlled Room Temperature]. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Alembic Pharmaceuticals Limited at 1-866-210-9797 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. GLUCOVANCE ® is a registered trademark of Merck Santé S.A.S., an associate of Merck KGaA of Darmstadt, Germany. Licensed to Bristol-Myers Squibb Company.
Adverse event reports
Source: openFDA FAERSAttributed to this product's most-reported active ingredient: MEMANTINE HYDROCHLORIDE. Combination products with more than six active ingredients are not attributed, because a report count summed across a long ingredient list measures the list, not the medicine.
Packaging and NDCs
Source: NDC Directory| Package NDC | Product NDC | Labeler | Description | Marketing start |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 62332-075-10 | 62332-075 | Alembic Pharmaceuticals Inc. | 100 TABLET, COATED in 1 CARTON (62332-075-10) | October 13, 2015 |
| 62332-075-20 | 62332-075 | Alembic Pharmaceuticals Inc. | 20 TABLET, COATED in 1 BOTTLE (62332-075-20) | October 13, 2015 |
| 62332-075-30 | 62332-075 | Alembic Pharmaceuticals Inc. | 30 TABLET, COATED in 1 BOTTLE (62332-075-30) | October 13, 2015 |
| 62332-075-31 | 62332-075 | Alembic Pharmaceuticals Inc. | 100 TABLET, COATED in 1 BOTTLE (62332-075-31) | October 13, 2015 |
| 62332-075-42 | 62332-075 | Alembic Pharmaceuticals Inc. | 3000 TABLET, COATED in 1 BOTTLE (62332-075-42) | October 13, 2015 |
| 62332-075-60 | 62332-075 | Alembic Pharmaceuticals Inc. | 60 TABLET, COATED in 1 BOTTLE (62332-075-60) | October 13, 2015 |
| 62332-075-91 | 62332-075 | Alembic Pharmaceuticals Inc. | 1000 TABLET, COATED in 1 BOTTLE (62332-075-91) | October 13, 2015 |
| 62332-076-10 | 62332-076 | Alembic Pharmaceuticals Inc. | 100 TABLET, COATED in 1 CARTON (62332-076-10) | October 13, 2015 |
| 62332-076-20 | 62332-076 | Alembic Pharmaceuticals Inc. | 20 TABLET, COATED in 1 BOTTLE (62332-076-20) | October 13, 2015 |
| 62332-076-30 | 62332-076 | Alembic Pharmaceuticals Inc. | 30 TABLET, COATED in 1 BOTTLE (62332-076-30) | October 13, 2015 |
| 62332-076-31 | 62332-076 | Alembic Pharmaceuticals Inc. | 100 TABLET, COATED in 1 BOTTLE (62332-076-31) | October 13, 2015 |
| 62332-076-42 | 62332-076 | Alembic Pharmaceuticals Inc. | 3000 TABLET, COATED in 1 BOTTLE (62332-076-42) | October 13, 2015 |
| 62332-076-60 | 62332-076 | Alembic Pharmaceuticals Inc. | 60 TABLET, COATED in 1 BOTTLE (62332-076-60) | October 13, 2015 |
| 62332-076-71 | 62332-076 | Alembic Pharmaceuticals Inc. | 500 TABLET, COATED in 1 BOTTLE (62332-076-71) | October 13, 2015 |
| 46708-451-10 | 46708-451 | Alembic Pharmaceuticals Limited | 100 TABLET, COATED in 1 CARTON (46708-451-10) | October 13, 2015 |
| 46708-451-20 | 46708-451 | Alembic Pharmaceuticals Limited | 20 TABLET, COATED in 1 BOTTLE (46708-451-20) | October 13, 2015 |
| 46708-451-30 | 46708-451 | Alembic Pharmaceuticals Limited | 30 TABLET, COATED in 1 BOTTLE (46708-451-30) | October 13, 2015 |
| 46708-451-31 | 46708-451 | Alembic Pharmaceuticals Limited | 100 TABLET, COATED in 1 BOTTLE (46708-451-31) | October 13, 2015 |
| 46708-451-42 | 46708-451 | Alembic Pharmaceuticals Limited | 3000 TABLET, COATED in 1 BOTTLE (46708-451-42) | October 13, 2015 |
| 46708-451-60 | 46708-451 | Alembic Pharmaceuticals Limited | 60 TABLET, COATED in 1 BOTTLE (46708-451-60) | October 13, 2015 |
| 46708-451-91 | 46708-451 | Alembic Pharmaceuticals Limited | 1000 TABLET, COATED in 1 BOTTLE (46708-451-91) | October 13, 2015 |
| 46708-452-10 | 46708-452 | Alembic Pharmaceuticals Limited | 100 TABLET, COATED in 1 CARTON (46708-452-10) | October 13, 2015 |
| 46708-452-20 | 46708-452 | Alembic Pharmaceuticals Limited | 20 TABLET, COATED in 1 BOTTLE (46708-452-20) | October 13, 2015 |
| 46708-452-30 | 46708-452 | Alembic Pharmaceuticals Limited | 30 TABLET, COATED in 1 BOTTLE (46708-452-30) | October 13, 2015 |
| 46708-452-31 | 46708-452 | Alembic Pharmaceuticals Limited | 100 TABLET, COATED in 1 BOTTLE (46708-452-31) | October 13, 2015 |
| 46708-452-42 | 46708-452 | Alembic Pharmaceuticals Limited | 3000 TABLET, COATED in 1 BOTTLE (46708-452-42) | October 13, 2015 |
| 46708-452-60 | 46708-452 | Alembic Pharmaceuticals Limited | 60 TABLET, COATED in 1 BOTTLE (46708-452-60) | October 13, 2015 |
| 46708-452-71 | 46708-452 | Alembic Pharmaceuticals Limited | 500 TABLET, COATED in 1 BOTTLE (46708-452-71) | October 13, 2015 |
| 62332-075 | 62332-075 | Alembic Pharmaceuticals Inc. | — | October 13, 2015 |
| 62332-076 | 62332-076 | Alembic Pharmaceuticals Inc. | — | October 13, 2015 |
| 46708-451 | 46708-451 | Alembic Pharmaceuticals Limited | — | October 13, 2015 |
| 46708-452 | 46708-452 | Alembic Pharmaceuticals Limited | — | October 13, 2015 |
Sources for this page
| Dataset | Agency | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| NDC Directory | FDA | Identity, ingredients, strengths, forms, routes, labelers, packages |
| Drugs@FDA | FDA | Application, sponsor, submissions, review documents, marketing status |
| Orange Book | FDA | Therapeutic equivalence codes, reference drug flags, patents, exclusivity |
| Drug Labeling | FDA / NLM | Prescribing information reproduced above |
| FAERS | FDA | Adverse event report counts |
Generated September 25, 2026 · 12 sections on this page.