Memantine (Axura, Akatinol) in Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

+100%-

Memantine (Axura, Akatinol) is…

An NMDA receptor antagonist that is FDA approved to treat moderate to severe Alzheimer’s disease.  A derivative of amantadine, memantine has been used for over 20 years to treat Alzheimer’s disease. Memantine blocks glutamate from exciting the NMDA receptors that believed to contribute to central sensitization. Memantine also may down-regulate 5-HT3 receptors that can contribute to pain sensitivity, enhance dopamine activity and inhibit neuroinflammation.

memantine-molecule

Memantine targets NMDA receptors that contribute to pain

Located in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord, the NMDA receptors are found in prime territory to regulate pain levels. Dorsal horn neurons receive and filter sensory information from the body and transmit it to the brain. Over activation of these neurons is believed to contribute to hypersensitivity pain states (central sensitization).

NMDA receptor affecting drugs such as ketamine are often used in anesthesia. . (Dextromethorphan, methadone and tramadol are other NMDA receptor antagonists.).

Long term use of some NMDA receptor affecting drugs has proved problematic; one hope has been that memantine will be a better long-term solution.

A relatively new drug memantine is being assessed in a wide variety of conditions including ADHD, neuropathic pain, anxiety, epilepsy, SLS, depression, multiple sclerosis, autism, migraine, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and others.

Memantine reduced neuropathic pain and improved cognition in laboratory animals and reduced pro-inflammatory cytokine expression and neurological issues in multiple sclerosis animal models. Memantine improved cognition and speech fluency in a large Alzheimer’s study. Memantine reduced central nervous system methylmercury damage in laboratory animals.

Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) Studies

Studies indicating raised levels glutamate levels in the insula, hippocampus, basal ganglia, posterior cingulate cortex regions (the ‘pain matrix’) of the brains of FM patients has ignited some interest in memantine.  Memantine improved cognition, depression and global function and produced a non-significant trend toward reduced pain in a small (n=10), preliminary, uncontrolled trial.

Memantine and Lyrica were hypothesized to have synergistic effects in fibromyalgia  but no trials have yet occurred.

Side Effects

According to Wikipedia, Memantine is general well tolerated. (However check out Wikipedia’s page on NMDA receptor antagonists). Spanish fibromyalgia researchers report “Memantine has shown a very low incidence of side effects in clinical trials on humans”.

Adverse drug reactions can include confusion, dizziness, drowsiness, headache, insomnia, agitation, and/or hallucinations and others. Overdoses of NMDA receptor antagonists can cause hallucinations, paranoid delusions, confusion, difficulty concentrating, agitation, mood alterations, nightmares, catatonia, anesthesia, and learning and memory problems. Abusers of these drugs can have significant cognitive problems.

Stay on Top of the News!

Subscribe To Health Rising’s Free Information on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), Fibromyalgia (FM), Long COVID and Related Diseases.

Thank you for signing up!

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This