title: Use of memantine for the treatment of dementia.
abstract: The term 'dementia' encompasses a number of neurodegenerative diseases of which Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common. Prior to 2003, cholinesterase inhibitors, such as donezepil, were the only class of drugs approved to treat mild-to-moderate AD. In 2003, memantine became the first drug approved by the US FDA to treat moderate-to-severe AD. Currently, both memantine and donepezil are FDA approved for the treatment of moderate-to-severe AD. This article examines the pharmacologic profile of memantine, evidence for memantine's efficacy in moderate-to-severe AD and other dementias, its novel use in other neuropsychiatric disorders and future implications and research directions for memantine.
authors.affiliation: Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Division of Geriatric Psychiatry, 1438 S Grand Blvd, St Louis, MO 63104, USA. daphne.lo@ucdenver.edu
authors.forename: Daphne
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lo
authors.forename: George T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Grossberg
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003704:Dementia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000077265:Donepezil; D015259:Dopamine Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007189:Indans / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008559:Memantine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010880:Piperidines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D015259:Dopamine Agents; D007189:Indans; D010880:Piperidines; D000077265:Donepezil; D008559:Memantine