Namenda for Moderate to Severe Alzheimer's Now Available Nationwide

Namenda® (memantine HCl) is now available to physicians, patients, and pharmacies nationwide for the treatment of moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease, according to Forest Laboratories.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Namenda last October. The drug is the first and only medication indicated for treatment of moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease.

Forest Laboratories, which makes Namenda, said healthcare providers, patients and caregivers should call their local pharmacies to determine if Namenda is available in their area.

Dr. George Grossberg, director of geriatric psychiatry at St. Louis University School of Medicine, said patients suffering from moderate to severe Alzheimer's have an effective new agent that works by an entirely different mechanism than the currently available drugs.

"Namenda has demonstrated therapeutic benefits in clinical trials when used alone or in combination with donepezil," said Grossberg. "In real life terms, the availability and use of Namenda may translate into many people maintaining their ability to communicate with their family or independently dress and bathe themselves for longer periods of time."

"While Namenda is not a cure, the accessibility of additional treatment choices brings fresh hope to people with Alzheimer's," said William Thies, vice president of the Alzheimer's Association.

Other sources: Forest Laboratories