title: Evaluating the efficacy of memantine on improving cognitive functions in epileptic patients receiving anti-epileptic drugs: A double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial (Phase IIIb pilot study).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  People with epilepsy have greater cognitive and behavioral dysfunction than the general population. There is no specific treatment available for cognitive impairment of these patients. We aimed to evaluate the effects of memantine, an N-methyl-D-aspartate-type glutamate receptor noncompetitive antagonist, on improving cognition and memory functions in epileptic patients with cognitive and memory impairment, who received anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs).
  
  
  METHODS
  We did a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel group trial, in SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Kattankulathur, Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu, India between April 2013 and September 2013. Fifty-nine epileptic patients taking AEDs with subjective memory complaints were recruited and randomized to either Group 1 to receive 16 weeks of once-daily memantine, (5 mg for first 8 weeks, followed by memantine 10 mg for next 8 weeks) or Group 2 to receive once daily placebo. This trial is registered with Clinical Trial Registry of India CTRI/2013/04/003573.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 59 randomized patients, 55 patients completed the study (26 memantine and 29 placebo). Memantine group showed statistically significant improvement in total mini mental state examination score from baseline (P = 0.765) to 16(th) week (P < 0.001) in comparison with the placebo. The Weshler's Memory Scale total score in memantine group improved significantly after 8 weeks (P = 0.002) compared with baseline (P = 0.873) and highly significant at the end of 16(th) week (P < 0.001). The self-rated quality of life and memory in memantine group also significantly improved at the study end.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that once-daily memantine (10 mg) treatment significantly improved cognition, memory and quality of life in epileptic patients with mild to moderate cognitive impairment and was found to have a favorable safety profile.
authors: Department of Pharmacology, SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Kattankulathur, Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors: Priya
authors: P
authors: Marimuthu
authors: Department of Pharmacology, SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Kattankulathur, Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors: Sathyanarayanan
authors: S
authors: Varadarajan
authors: Department of Neurology, SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Kattankulathur, Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors: Muthuraj
authors: M
authors: Krishnan
authors: Department of Neurology, SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Kattankulathur, Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors: Sundar
authors: S
authors: Shanmugam
authors: Department of Neurology, SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Kattankulathur, Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors: Gireesh
authors: G
authors: Kunjuraman
authors: Department of Pharmacology, SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Kattankulathur, Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors: Jamuna Rani
authors: JR
authors: Ravinder
authors: Department of General Medicine, SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Kattankulathur, Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors: Balasubramanian
authors: B
authors: Arumugam
authors: Department of Clinical Psychology, SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Kattankulathur, Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors: Divya
authors: D
authors: Alex
authors: Department of Biostatistics, SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Kattankulathur, Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors: Porchelvan
authors: P
authors: Swaminathan
keywords: Cognitive functions; Memantine; epilepsy