In the early/mid-stages, it held my MIL fairly steady, as if she were
falling out of the sky with a parachute instead of unrestrained.

Now that she's in the final stages (bed-bound in a nursing home, hospice
care, etc), it isn't supposed to be helpful, but she's receiving the
maximum dosage, and it seems to be helpful about once every 10 to 14
days, so that she recognizes her husband (my FIL), and is somewhat coherent.

Beth

Its been used in germany for the last 10+ years. Its in use in the UK, and
my father is currently taking it* as part of a trial to establish whether it
is any use in later stages.

From what I've read, best results are achieved if it is taken in conjunction
with aricept and my father definitely had better results on aricept rather
than memantine when he was in early stages (he never had both at the same
time).

I had my wife put on Memantine/Namenda (with Aricept) before it was
approved in the US. I had to get it from the UK. She calmed down with
easier redirection and seemed happier. I think the combination did
wonders. She is now so far advanced and Hospice doubts either are doing
anything but while it worked it did her well.

Bud

Hi Sue, ,

My mother had what I think is a fairly rare reaction to the Namenda.

Her doctor cut down her dosage of aricept, because of stomach problems
and added Namenda, gradually increasing the dosage of Namenda to the
recommended levels.  My mom had a contrary reaction, within a month,
her confusion increased profoundly, she had delusions,  significant
weight loss and ended up sleeping most of the time.  There were also
other events which probably contributed to my Mom's severe decline,
including a colonoscopy and having to have her dog euthanized.   But
once we took her off Namenda, she improved greatly.  Unfortunately, she
never improved to pre-Namenda levels so we had to move her from her
home to assisted living.

Even with that experience, I couldn't advise someone to not try
Namenda, because, as I mentioned, my mother's reaction was rare, but
does occur.  By the way, my mother's behavior/jtemperment improved
greatly when she was prescribed zoloft.

I have been on Namenda for a good while I can't tell any
difference...also on avandamet....But still can't notice any difference
in my Alzhiemers.....I have heard so many good things about
Avandia...the Dr gave me Avandamet...when I ask for it ....still it
isn't helping that I can tell.. she told me next time she will give me
the real thing....so I'm waiting.....I once had a life... could paint
pictures and scenery ...now I can do very little....I have lots of doll
parts fired and ready to put together and don't have sence enough to get
started...But the DR told me after I take all of the avandamet...she
will give me the avandia....I heard on the News The other morning that
they think Avandia might do away with Diabetes....can't wait to see if
it works.....My Webtv got Fried when we had a storm and it came through
the telephone line...i had pulled the plug on this when I heard a storm
was coming ...didn't have sense enough to unplug the phone line and I
lost my webtv....Took a while to find this it is suppose to be a new
webtv plus but it doesn't feel like my old one that died...Ok I'll get
off just in case I have bored you to death...

If you haven't seen it, you might want to look at the Alzheimer's
Association fact sheet for Memantine (Namenda is the brand name
for it) at:

http://www.alz.org/Resources/FactSheets/FSmemantine.pdf

A more technical explanation can be found in the FDA approved
drug label at:

http://www.fda.gov/cder/foi/nda/2003/21-487_Namenda_Prntlbl.pdf

Best of luck.

   Alan

Sue I am taking Aricept , namenda, and avandiamet...I have had
Alzheimers for 6 years...