Ask the Expert Q&A: Discontinuation of Namenda dosages
Q: I recently went to the pharmacy to fill my wife’s prescription for Namenda, and I was told that I would no longer be able to get the dose she has been taking. She has done well on this medication, and I don’t want her to stop taking it. What can I do?
A: The discontinuation or shortage of Namenda is something many consumers are facing. Pharmacies are no longer able to purchase the 5 mg and 10 mg dosages, and the new recommended target dose of 28 mg is in short supply due to the increased demand.
Namenda (generic: memantine hydrochloride) is available in tablet and oral solutions. The medication is often prescribed to help reduce the actions of chemicals in the brain that may contribute to the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.
Forest Laboratories announced earlier in the year that they would discontinue the sale of memantine (Namenda) 5-mg and 10-mg tablets effective Aug. 15, in favor of focusing on sales of its once-daily, extended-release formulation (Namenda XR).
Dr. Marco Taglietti, chief medical officer and executive vice-president for drug development and research of Forest Laboratories, states, “Namenda XR offers important benefits, including convenient, once-daily dosing, which is particularly meaningful for this patient population and their caregivers.”
In a more recent development, a company named Actavis picked up Namenda when it bought Forest Laboratories Inc., a $28 billion acquisition that closed in July. The latest patent on Namenda XR extends through September 2029. Actavis’s patents for the 5-mg and 10-mg doses of Namenda expire in October 2015, and some generic drug manufacturers can start selling competitor products three months prior.
Consumers like yourself are being told that the dose they currently use is not available. If your wife is still on the 10-mg dose, you will most likely be able to get that until the supply runs out, but you will eventually need to talk to your doctor about switching to the extended-release dose. If she is taking the 28-mg dosage already, you may need to talk to your physician about getting a backup prescription for the 10-mg, twice-a-day dose that can be used until the 28-mg dose becomes available.
In talking with several pharmacies, most can still order the 10-mg dose. It is the 28-mg, extended-release dose of which they are receiving only a sporadic supply. Ask your local pharmacy what it has in stock or will be able to order. If this does not match your current prescription dose, call your physician to discuss your options.
Natt, a certified senior adviser, and care manager can be reached at amyn@agingoutreachservices.com.