Membral (memantine) coated tablets 10 mg. №60

Description

Membral composition
active substance: memantine;
1 tablet contains memantine hydrochloride 10 mg;
excipients: lactose monohydrate, microcrystalline cellulose, talc, colloidal anhydrous silica, magnesium stearate;
mixture for film coating: lactose monohydrate, hypromellose, titanium dioxide (E 171), polyethylene glycol 4000 (macrogol), for tablets 20 mg: iron oxide yellow (E 172), iron oxide red (E 172).

Dosage form
Film-coated tablets.

Pharmacological properties
Memantine hydrochloride-based drug Membral belongs to a group of drugs used to treat dementia.
The main active ingredient of the drug is memantine, a potential-dependent, medium affinity, non-competitive antagonist of the indicated NMDA receptors.
This component is able to modulate the effects of pathologically elevated glutamate levels. This increase can cause neuronal dysfunction.
This pharmaceutical product Membral is used in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (the most common form of dementia) of varying degrees of severity, from mild to severe.
Dementia and one of its forms, Alzheimer’s disease, is a syndrome characterized by degradation of memory, thinking, behavior, and the ability of a person to perform daily activities. At the same time, the negative tendencies of character change are much stronger than occurs during normal aging.
Disturbance of glutamatergic neurotransmission is of great importance in how the symptoms of the disease manifest and the progression of neurodegenerative dementia. Especially with the participation of NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) receptors.

Indications
This pharmaceutical preparation Membral is used to treat all degrees of Alzheimer’s disease, or senile dementia of the Alzheimer’s type.

Contraindications
Contraindicated in case of allergy to memantine, or one of the auxiliary components of the drug, including patients suffering from galactose intolerance, lactase deficiency.
Care should also be taken if the patient suffers from epilepsy, seizures, or has risk factors for epilepsy.
Do not use concomitantly with antagonists amantadine, ketamine or dextromethorphan, as this may cause increased side effects.
Caution should be exercised when prescribing to patients suffering from cardiovascular diseases.

Children
The drug is not used in pediatrics.

Application during pregnancy and lactation
Use is contraindicated during all three trimesters of pregnancy, as this can cause intrauterine growth retardation.
Breastfeeding should be suspended during treatment.

Method of administration and dosage
Membral treatment is carried out under the supervision of a physician and necessarily under the supervision of a guardian for constant monitoring of the drug intake.
The recommended daily dosage for the treatment of patients over 65 years of age is 20 mg, that is, 2 tablets of the drug in a dosage of 10 mg or 1 tablet in a dosage of 20 mg. The same dosage is the maximum allowable.
The medicine is taken once a day, at the same time of day, regardless of the meal. The maximum daily dose, it is also a maintenance dosage of 20 mg. In order to bring the dose to the maximum, it should be done very gradually, over 3 weeks, increasing the dosage by 5 mg per week.
It is necessary to act according to the following scheme:

• 1st week – 5 mg of the drug is taken (half a tablet of Membral at a dosage of 10 mg);
• 2nd week – 1 tablet is taken in 10 mg of the drug;
• 3rd week – 15 mg once a day, using one and a half tablets of the drug in a dosage of 10 mg;
• 4 week – 20 mg each, which corresponds to 1 tablet in a dosage of 20 mg or 2 tablets of the drug in a dosage of 10 mg.

The duration of the course of treatment is determined by the attending physician, based on the effectiveness of the effect of taking the drug.
If the effect of the application falls or the number of side effects increases, the treatment with this drug is stopped.
The first 3 months should closely monitor the tolerance of the drug.
With renal failure of moderate and severe severity, the dosage is halved – up to 10 mg per day. If no negative effects occur within 7 days, the dosage can be increased to the standard 20 mg per day.
In case of mild to moderate hepatic insufficiency, the dosage is not adjusted. In the case of more serious kidney disease, the drug is not recommended.

Overdose
Overdose cases are extremely rare. Overdose tenfold led to symptoms of fatigue and diarrhea. Sometimes the overdose was asymptomatic.
In rare cases, the following were observed:

• confusion of consciousness;
• aggression;
• hallucinations;
• gait disturbances;
• nausea, vomiting, diarrhea.

After complete recovery, no consequences were observed.
The antidote is unknown. Symptomatic treatment, gastric lavage, intake of sorbents, and active diuresis are recommended.

Side effects
Side effects were observed in the form of:

• fungal infections;
• allergic reactions;
• drowsiness, hallucinations (in patients with severe Alzheimer’s disease), disturbed gait, balance, seizures;
• heart failure, increased blood pressure, thrombosis, thromboembolism;
• dyspnea;
• constipation, vomiting, pancreatitis;
• hepatitis.

The course of this disease is characterized by depressive states, suicidal tendencies. The listed symptoms are also possible with the use of drugs based on memantine.

Storage conditions and periods
Shelf life – 2 years at 25 ° C.