[The clinical relevance of memantine use].

Abstract

Memantine is an NMDA receptor antagonist with moderate affinity, which results in neuroprotective potential due to reducing overstimulation caused by glutamate (excitotoxicity) and simultaneous lack of adverse events (especially psychosis) typical for an antagonist with higher affinity like phencyclidine. In randomized, controlled studies it has been shown that memantine is beneficial in the treatment of moderate to severe dementia of Alzheimer's type and it became the very first compound to be registered for this purpose both in Europe (including Poland) and in the United States. Further investigation require usefulness of memantine in less advanced stages of Alzheimer's disease as well as other types of dementia especially vascular; promising results are shown in dual therapy: memantine + cholinesterase inhibitor.

• Authors: Tomasz Sobów
• Journal: Psychiatria polska (Psychiatr Pol) 2004 Mar-Apr Vol. 38 Issue 2 Pg. 321-30 ISSN: 0033-2674 [Print] Poland
• Vernacular Title: Kliniczne właściwości memantyny.
• PMID: 15307296 (Publication Type: English Abstract, Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists
• Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate
• Memantine

Topics

• Alzheimer Disease (drug therapy, physiopathology)
• Dementia, Vascular (drug therapy, physiopathology)
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Europe
• Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists (therapeutic use)
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Memantine (therapeutic use)
• Poland
• Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
• Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate (antagonists & inhibitors)
• Treatment Outcome
• United States