Memantine: Uses, Benefits & How It Works - A Comprehensive Guide

Memantine (Ebixa, Namenda, Axura) is a medication used in the treatment of certain symptoms of

1. Alzheimer's disease,

2. vascular dementia in people with moderate-to-severe disease, and

3. Parkinson's disease.

It belongs to a class of drugs known as N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDA) antagonists or partial agonists. It works by blocking the effects of glutamate, which is an excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain.

Glutamate is thought to play a role in the symptoms of several neurological disorders including cognitive impairment, hallucinations, delusions, and movement problems. By reducing the effects of glutamate, Memantine can help to improve cognitive functioning and reduce the severity of these symptoms.