Memantine

Additional information

Pharmacokinetics and dosing

Following a multiple dose administration of memantine 20 mg twice a day, Cmax and AUC were approximately 45% higher in women than in men. However, there were no differences in Cmax or AUC when body weight was taken into account [1]. In a pharmacokinetic study (34 men, 74 women), men had higher oral clearance (CL/F) [4]. Despite the pharmacokinetic differences of memantine, the clinical studies have shown effect with similar doses in men and women, and no sex differentiation in dosing has been suggested [5].

Effects

Other information

An American retrospective data analysis investigated the relationship between adherence to oral AD therapy (rivastigmine, donepezil, galantamine or memantine) and other variables. Male AD patients were approximately 18% more likely to be adherent to index oral AD therapy than female patients [7].In a retrospective analysis of effect of memantine with or without vitamin E (15 men, 28 women), no differences between men and women were shown [6].

Adverse effects

No studies with a clinically relevant sex analysis regarding adverse effects of memantine have been found.

Reproductive health issues

Regarding teratogenic aspects, please consult the Drugs and Birth Defects Database (in Swedish, Janusmed fosterpåverkan).