My mother has been suffering from Alzheimer for past 2 years. Recently I heard something about this new drug called Namenda. Is it for patients with Alzheimer's disease? I would like some information about this new drug.
The Food and Drug Administration approved Namenda in 2003. Brand name of this drug is meantime. This is the first drug shown to be effective against the more severe stages of Alzheimer's disease. Studies have shown that Namenda can produce modest benefits in some patients from moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease. It works differently than the currently approved Alzheimer's drugs, which are prescribed only for the early stages of the disease. Treatment of Alzheimer's with medicines remains difficult because cognitive improvements are often small and hard to detect. Researchers can detect small but statistically significant improvements on memory test. However, the family notices little or no improvement in day-to-day functioning of patients. Currently, Namenda (meantime) has been approved in Germany and other European countries. If you are interested in obtaining this medicine, consult with your mother's doctor whether it is right for her or not.