Memantine and Confusion: What Users Say

• Anonymous
• April 6, 2012

Memantine for Alzheimer's Disease "We started my Dad on Namenda, and by day 2, he was more confused, lost, and irritable than usual, so my Mom stopped it. The doctor asked her to start again, and the same day, he experienced the same side effects, so she stopped. Last week, she decided to try it one more time to make sure. Dad was VERY confused and not easy to take care of. I guess he is just one of those people that can't take this medication. Too bad. It helps so many people."

• Leg...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 29, 2021

For Alzheimer's Disease "My wife, who has Vascular Dementia/Alzheimer's Disease. She has tried this drug twice. First time, she started on a low dose of memantine and built up to 20mg. Her condition became worse over a period of time. I was not sure if this was a normal progression of her condition. We stopped the drugs, and within two weeks she had settled down, and things were more manageable. A year later, we have tried the drug again on a low dose of 5mg. The confusion became worse. So we have stopped them again. It is hard to know if there are any benefits from this drug in our experience."

• Sur...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 16, 2021

Memantine for Alzheimer's Disease "My father has significantly improved since taking Namenda and Aricept combined, as well as 24-hour caregiver support at home. We believe that the combination has helped dad's cognitive function not just by medication alone, but because he had companionship 24 hours a day. Dad was confused, always thought he was at work and wanted to go home. He forgot who we were and even made sexual moves towards people he would not have otherwise when he did not have Alzheimer's. The symptoms or behaviors he still has are occasional memory loss but very little. He is still paranoid and thinks people are stealing from him or going on his property when they are not, and he occasionally still sees people or animals that aren't there. But the confusion of who we were, where he was, and the wandering and wanting to 'go home' even when he was home is no longer an issue. My dad is only 73, and he was diagnosed last year with Alzheimer's."

• dau...
• January 16, 2012

Memantine for Alzheimer's Disease "My mother has been treated with the Exelon (patch) for two years now. Last month she was changed to Namenda. She has become irritable, aggressive/depressed and more confused than before. We are asking the doctor to switch back to Exelon."

• Dau...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 1, 2016

Memantine for Alzheimer's Disease "My mother has taken Namenda twice now. The first time she was so confused after a week, I stopped giving it to her. She has gotten worse over the years and for some reason her doctor had given me a new prescription for the same medicine. I tried it for two days and saw my mother become extremely confused, so I stopped giving it to her. I don't know why he insisted on Namenda after I told him it didn't work the first time."

• Ms ...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 11, 2017

Memantine for Alzheimer's Disease "My mom has been on this medication for one year, and her condition (dementia) is getting worse. She's hallucinating, aggressive, and extremely confused. It seems as if this medication is making things worse and speeding up the progress of the dementia. This drug should not be on the market. I will bring her to her psychologist soon, and I will be asking for this drug to be taken off her daily medication intake. Please say no to this drug."

• DCa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 9, 2019

For Alzheimer's Disease "Problem. Patient forgets recent events and the doctor told us it was due to insufficient blood supply to the brain, and prescribed Dement (memantine). Immediately (2 days) condition worsens to hallucinations and confusion. Took some two other vitamins from a pharmacist for 3 months. Patient was clearly getting better, in fact, even the recent memory was getting better with the vitamins. Went back to the neurological doctor and explained everything to him. He told us to reuse memantine, and by the third day, the negative side effects were back. As of tomorrow, it will be taken off."

• Mom...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 10, 2023

For Alzheimer's Disease "My 82-year-old mother has dementia and ended up on memantine 21 mg ER. She was lethargic, dizzy, and confused. We assumed it was just the progression of her disease. Her PCP suggested stopping the memantine. My mother improved for several days as the drug left her system (I read it has a half-life of 100 hours.) After that, she became confused again, lethargic, and could barely speak. Adding the 21 mg back improved her condition for a while, but she eventually ended up lethargic and confused again. Our conclusion from this was that the dosage was much too high. After a week with a single 5 mg tablet a day, she is much more aware, is speaking in complete sentences, and has been getting out of her wheelchair and walking with a walker again. My advice is to monitor the patient taking this medication closely and do not allow doctors to rush to higher dosages."

• HTB...
• December 31, 2022

For Alzheimer's Disease "My mother, at age 82, has been taking the memantine for 2 months now. Before she started this, she was taking her own medication. Within 2 days of taking them, she started forgetting to take any medications. She began with 5 mg the first week, 10 mg the second week, 15 mg the third week, and 20 mg thereafter. My mum has been incredibly tired, feeling dizzy to the point of nearly falling over. She is extremely confused more than ever. A new year today, and she seems to not even know the time or day or where she is. She even started seeing things. New year tomorrow, I have decided I am no longer giving her these medications."

• Suz...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 26, 2019

For Alzheimer's Disease "My mother has dementia. She's been taking donepezil (Aricept) for about 5 years. 14 days ago, the Dr. added memantine (generic Namenda). My mother's confusion has amplified. I have researched the side effects, and confusion is one of them. I'm glad I found this site to know that others have had problems too, and it's not just me overthinking. I'm taking her off of it immediately."

• Fam...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 19, 2021

For Alzheimer's Disease "Mom has dementia. After taking memantine, she exhibited strange and unusual behavior. Up at night in a daze, highly unusual verbal statements, confusion, decline in balance. Told her doctor about her strange behavior, he totally ignored my comments, said it was dementia, not the drug, and doubled her dosage. On memantine, she acts as if drunk or out of her normal state of mind. I would not recommend. Might work better for some."

• Wal...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 18, 2025

For Migraine "They need to add difficulty speaking and slurring your words. When I first took memantine, it really freaked me out, with dizziness, difficulty speaking, instability (walking), and confusion. The side effects eventually subsided. Now I’ve been on it for 11 months. The first six months were a game changer, now its effectiveness has begun to wane. I’m going to talk with my doc about medications for severe headaches/chronic pain and memory loss that are not psychotropics."

• cls...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 24, 2014

Memantine "My mother is on a dose of 21 mg Namenda XR, and I think it is making her symptoms worse. She is very medication-sensitive, and I see her CHI as more depressed, forgetful, worrisome, and confused. I will be discussing, as always, with her doctor, but I feel she needs to be removed from this medicine. Plus, on a side note, it is nearly impossible to get this medicine, although that has nothing to do with her taking the medication."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 9, 2024

For Migraine "It's working to rid my headaches. I'm feeling confused and have hypertension; however, I don't know if it's related to the medication yet."