NMDA receptor antagonist
Memantine hydrochloride
Brand names: Ebixa
Adult dose
Dose: 5mg OD initially, increase weekly by 5mg to 20mg OD
Route: PO
Frequency: OD
Dose adjustments
Renal
Reduce in moderate-severe renal impairment per BNF
Clinical pearls
- Moderate-severe Alzheimer's disease, monotherapy or with cholinesterase inhibitor (NICE TA217)
Contraindications
- Severe renal impairment
- Concurrent NMDA antagonists (amantadine/ketamine)
Side effects
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Constipation
- Hypertension
- Hallucinations (rare)
Interactions
- Amantadine/ketamine
- Levodopa
- Hydrochlorothiazide (raised memantine)
Monitoring
- MMSE/cognitive assessment
Reference: BNF; NICE TA217/NG97; https://bnf.nice.org.uk/drugs/memantine-hydrochloride/. Verify against your local formulary and the latest BNF before prescribing.
Related
Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.
Pathways
- Acute Stroke / TIA Assessment · NICE NG128; RCP Stroke Guidelines 2023
- Status Epilepticus (Adults) · NICE CG137; ESEM guidelines; RCP Neurology Guidelines
- Suspected Subarachnoid Haemorrhage · NICE NG228; RCEM 2023; AHA/ASA 2023
- Adult Head Injury · NICE NG232 (2023)
- Bell's Palsy / Facial Nerve Palsy · ENT UK 2017; AAN
- Vertigo Workup · ENT UK; NICE CKS