Donepezil and memantine

Donepezil/memantine is a prescription medication approved for the treatment of moderate to severe dementia of the Alzheimer's type in patients stabilized on memantine and donepezil.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Serious side effects have been reported with this medications. See the “donepezil/memantine Precautions” section.

Common side effects include the following:

• headache
• diarrhea
• not wanting to eat
• bruising
• dizziness

This is not a complete list of side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take:

• amantadine
• ketamine
• dextromethorphan
• medications that make the urine alkaline
• ketoconazole
• quinidine
• phenytoin
• carbamazepine
• dexamethasone
• rifampin
• phenobarbital

This is not a complete list of drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully.

The dose your doctor recommends may be based on the following:

• other medical conditions you have
• other medications you are taking
• your kidney function

The recommended dose of Namzaric (memantine and donepezil hydrochloride) is 28 mg memantine/10 mg donepezil hydrochloride once daily in the evening. 

For those whose kidneys are not working as well as they should be, the recommended dose is 14 mg memantine/10 mg donepezil hydrochloride once daily in the evening

If you take too much of this medication, call your healthcare provider or local Poison Control Center, or seek emergency medical attention right away.

If this medication is administered by a healthcare provider in a medical setting, it is unlikely that an overdose will occur. However, if an overdose is suspected, seek emergency medical attention.

Donepezil improves the function of nerve cells in the brain. It works by preventing the breakdown of a chemical called acetylcholine (ah SEET il KOE leen). People with dementia usually have lower levels of this chemical, which is important for the processes of memory, thinking, and reasoning.

Memantine reduces the actions of chemicals in the brain that may contribute to the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease.

Donepezil and memantine is a combination medicine used to treat moderate to severe dementia of the Alzheimer's type.

Donepezil and memantine is not a cure for Alzheimer's disease. This condition will progress over time, even in people who take donepezil.

Donepezil and memantine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Applies to donepezil / memantine: oral capsule extended release, oral kit

Cardiovascular

Memantine:
Common (1% to 10%): Hypertension, hypotension
Postmarketing reports: Congestive cardiac failure

Donepezil:
Common (1% to 10%): Hypertension, hemorrhage, syncope
Postmarketing reports: Heart block (all types)[Ref]

Nervous system

Memantine:
Common (1% to 10%): Headache, dizziness, somnolence

Donepezil:
Common (1% to 10%): Headache, dizziness, somnolence
Postmarketing reports: Convulsions, neuroleptic malignant syndrome[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

Memantine:
Common (1% to 10%): Diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, vomiting
Postmarketing reports: Pancreatitis

Donepezil:
Very common (10% or more): Diarrhea (10%)
Common (1% to 10%): Vomiting, anorexia, nausea
Postmarketing reports: Abdominal pain, pancreatitis[Ref]

Respiratory

Memantine:
Common (1% to 10%): Influenza[Ref]

General

The most common adverse reactions in patients receiving memantine ER were headache, diarrhea, and dizziness. The most common adverse reactions in patients receiving donepezil were diarrhea, anorexia, vomiting, nausea, and ecchymosis.[Ref]

Dermatologic

Memantine:
Postmarketing reports: Stevens Johnson Syndrome

Donepezil:
Common (1% to 10%): Eczema
Postmarketing reports: Rash[Ref]

Hematologic

Memantine:
Postmarketing reports: Agranulocytosis, leukopenia (including neutropenia), pancytopenia, thrombocytopenia, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura

Donepezil:
Common (1% to 10%): Ecchymosis
Postmarketing reports: Hemolytic anemia[Ref]

Hepatic

Memantine:
Postmarketing reports: Hepatitis

Donepezil:
Postmarketing reports: Cholecystitis, hepatitis[Ref]

Metabolic

Donepezil:
Common (1% to 10%): Increased creatinine phosphokinase, dehydration, hyperlipidemia
Postmarketing reports: Hyponatremia[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

Memantine:
Common (1% to 10%): Back pain

Donepezil:
Common (1% to 10%): Back pain[Ref]

Other

Memantine:
Common (1% to 10%): Increased weight

Donepezil:
Very common (10% or more): Accident (13%), infection (11%)
Common (1% to 10%): Fever, pain, chest pain[Ref]

Psychiatric

Memantine:
Common (1% to 10%): Anxiety, depression, aggression
Postmarketing reports: Suicidal ideation

Donepezil:
Common (1% to 10%): Insomnia, nervousness, hallucinations, hostility, depression, confusion, emotional lability, personality disorder
Postmarketing reports: Agitation, confusion, hallucinations[Ref]

Renal

Memantine:
Common (1% to 10%): Urinary incontinence
Postmarketing reports: Acute renal failure

Donepezil:
Common (1% to 10%): Urinary incontinence[Ref]

Some side effects of donepezil / memantine may not be reported. Always consult your doctor or healthcare specialist for medical advice. You may also report side effects to the FDA.

Safety and efficacy have not been established in patients younger than 18 years.

Consult WARNINGS section for additional precautions.

Data not available