Another check-up this morning. Have to admit, being walking distance from the clinic is a lot better than back when a trip to the doctor was a three-hour drive each way.
Today there was a new PA and we started with the finger and foot tapping exercises. I could feel the tightness in my left arm and and left leg but forced myself to keep at it and not quit. In my mind I was slamming my heel into the floor with enough force to crack concrete but the PA said he didn't see a difference between left and right legs. Then Dr Bortan came in. While doing the test for hand strength she wanted me to squeeze her fingers as hard as I could. Doing so I mashed her knuckles together and got a squeak out of her. I felt a guilty pleasure from that.
Then the walking test where I was careful to swing both arms. Then the pull test where I managed NOT to move more than one step.
I don't know what they saw that was different but this was the first time she mentioned trying a new drug: Memantine. I haven't checked with Dr Google but the paperwork says it's for cognition.
Anyone familiar with this drug?
TIA,
kpo
Written by
kaypeeoh
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Measuring methylmalonic acid helps the doctor work out if a low serum Vitamin B12 is actually a Vitamin B12 deficiency. A lot of people with Parkinson's - and a lot of older people in general - are deficient in Vitamin B12 which is easily corrected, but which, if left uncorrected, can cause permanent damage to the nervous system.
My doctor put me on Memantine over a year ago for movement issues. Since then my walking is much improved. I’m also taking the probiotic with Lactobacillus plantarum. Every little bit helps 🌟
Memantine is a ALZ drug. It is a NMDA Receptor Antagonist.
It isn't "normally" prescribed for PD unless your doctor feels clear evidence exists for signs of DLB or PDD (dementia). I believe one of your doctors believes you have moderate to severe signs of LB dementia, so memantine would be a standard MO drug in your situation.
Often prescribed with similar drugs such as donepezil, etc. to improve efficacy.
Improvements in small CTs were minimal ...alone or in combination with other drugs...although a distinction was seen between DLB and PDD efficacy (greater efficacy in DLB groups).
Looking back at your old posts, It appears your physicians(?) agree.
I doctor google'd memantine. First thing to come up was Alzheimers. But that was followed by dozens of posts on PD.
It seems Rytary has helped the motor signs enough that she wants to address neurologic signs? I take 5mg Memantine twice daily. After one month I take the neurologic assessment exam. I took this last year. It was three hours long. It ended with the guy saying I have problems with executive function. I remember thinking I was doing well during the exam. Back then I didn't believe I had a problem and wasn't taking the Sinemet regularly.
I'm hoping to do better this time. So far no side affects from the memantine; No body aches, dizziness constipation or headache. Rather, no worsening of the constipation caused by Rytary.
Just scanning I found an article discussing the Phase 1, phase 2 and phase 3 clinical trials. I've been on Rytari for a year. The neuro just added Memantine. I saw that memantine is one of the few treatments that survived to reach phase 3. The article said it targets alpha synuclein???
Hubby’s been on mementine for over a year. It helped him quite a bit with cognitive impairment at first. But I also think it helped his movement a bit. It may be that you are having some cognitive issues if they want you to try it? It’s a very mild drug also with almost no side effects, not a bad idea to give it a try.
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