Has anyone tried memantine, the generic medication for Namenda for chronic migraine?

[Purple_22]

My neurologist has told me that she has a patient that was prescribed memantine to treat migraine and it is helping her, but she has never prescribed it for this. She wanted me to try aimovig first, which I did and it did nothing. So I was thinking of trying it. I’m finding some dizziness as a side effect, but only from one person.

[tieaknot]

I’ve tried it and I would try it again…side effects were minimal (which is saying a lot for me because I’m so so sensitive to mess side effects). I did get drowsy but I also have insomnia already so it could have been that. I started at a super low dose 5mg once a day and worked up to 10mg a day. I didn’t find it super helpful but I wasn’t at a decent dose for very long before I stopped it so I could take a different medicine for a different issue that doesn’t mix well. I do think it’s worth a try! I’ve seen several reports online that it really helps some people.

[Purple_22 in reply to tieaknot]

Thank you for sharing this with me. I am going to talk to my neurologist when I see her in February and hopefully she will agree to give this a try.

[BitBrokenBrain]

The only improvement I saw was less brain fog, but not significant enough to continue. It didn’t prevent migraines for me, or shorten the duration. I did gain weight and it caused some issues with my sleep (needed more sleep at one dosage and couldn’t sleep at all with another).

[Purple_22 in reply to BitBrokenBrain]

I’m sorry it didn’t work for you. Thank you for sharing this with me. I am always nervous trying a new med and it helps to get feedback. Have you found another medication that is working? I keep searching because the neurologist is only giving me the typical migraine medication unless I come to her with something else. She’s been great, but just doesn’t know what else to try with me.

[BitBrokenBrain in reply to Purple_22]

Unfortunately, the meds that were originally intended for other ailments haven’t helped (blood pressure meds, Alzheimer’s, seizure, etc.). I’m super sensitive to meds also, so if there’s a side effect- no matter how rare- I usually end up being THAT patient- haha. I even gained weight on Topamax - UGH. So far the only migraine medicine (abortive) that has worked is Ubrelvy. No luck for me with the injection preventatives (can’t take Aimovig and had allergic reaction to Emgality). Botox, once I had a few rounds, did take me from an average of 27 migraine days per month down to 15-17 per month, keeping in mind that I also follow the migraine relief diet or AIP and work really hard to avoid other (non food) triggers. Getting my B12 and iron levels stable also made a big difference (I have pernicious anemia and hypoferritinemia). It’s a lot of work to find, repair and avoid triggers (especially if like me, the #1 trigger is stress), but those precious, rare pain-free days make it worth it. I hope you find something that helps! If not a 100% cure, at least something to improve quality of life.

[Nicoles1980]

I have been on memantine for a few years and it has helped with the brain fog, tremors & migraines. I would give it a shot. It’s one of those meds that hasn’t given me any side effects so no harm no foul.

[Purple_22 in reply to Nicoles1980]

Thank you for sharing this with me. Can I ask what dosage you started with and what are you taking now? I know I might be different because I’m very sensitive to medication, but it helps me to have an idea. I’m always nervous trying new meds.

[Onthemove1971]

I have not but have you high doses of magnesium? I take it 3x a day 400mg. I can take up to 1600mg. I also take Feverfew 2x a day. These have really changed my life and reduced the number of migraines and how strong they are. I also use Imitrix higher dose 100mg) in pill and injections which has kept me away from the Emergency Room.

Good luck in trying this medication.

[Purple_22 in reply to Onthemove1971]

I take 400mg of magnesium citrate daily, but have never increased it. I didn’t know I could take up to 1600 mg daily. Thank you for letting me know. I am definitely going to try it, but not all citrate because I know that causes diarrhea if you take too much. What kind of magnesium do you take? I do want to try memantine, but I don’t see my neurologist until February, so I can try this before I go. How much feverfew do you take? I don’t know anything about it.

[Onthemove1971 in reply to Purple_22]

If you have been taking magnesium for longer than 6 months and you don't see a big impact then it is most likely the wrong type. I was on magnesium citrate becuase it was cheap and easy to find.

As soon as I changrd to magnesium glycinate and I started taking it 3x daily ( especially the noon dose) I could feel them go away.

I have heard about diaherra but I have not had any.

Maybe change the type ( I think there are 5 or 6 types). Then try to work on the dose.

Good luck!

[troy04]

I would say - "helping" migraine is not good enough reason to take such medicine which is capable of causing neuronal dysfunction to people who do not have Alzheimer's disease. There are loads of medicines which initially "help". We need to find a solution that reduces migraine to at least 50% to 70%. Also, if you do not have many migraine but still have frequent headaches - is that acceptable? You need to sometimes judge the risk yourself as our doctors may not - they just want to see a medicine doing something.

I would agree to the comment about trying Magnesium supplement first as it would also "help" and much better option. However, try Magnesium glycinate or bisglycinate (not oxide or citrate). Also, when we say, 400mg, what you need to see is the "elemental" amount, not the weight of the entire magnesium-containing compound. Often the "elemental" amount is only 100mg per 400mg capsule sold commonly. You should not exceed 400mg elemental Magnesium per day as it can cause kidney damage in the long run. However, if you only take 100mg elemental Mg, it won't work (reducing migraine) ! So, please research accordingly. Try to see the label "elemental". Recently, some anecdotal findings suggest magnesium complex (mixture of Threonate, Glycinate, Taurate) works better but I have not personally tried it yet. If you have exhausted all options and nothing really works, then of course go for Memantine / Topiramate / Duloxetine etc.

[Purple_22 in reply to troy04]

I’ve tried many, many different kinds of medications including aimovig, Botox and even a cervical facet injection which made me a lot worse. Nothing helped. I found some people online that had good results taking memantine, but haven’t found information about what it does to people who don’t have Alzheimer’s. I will discuss this again with my neurologist. A friend just told me about 5 htp helping to reduce the frequency of migraines, but I haven’t looked into it yet. I never heard about the elemental amount in magnesium. I’ll give this a try. Thank you.

[CINDY471]

Has your doc mentioned the possibility of you having a diary sensitivity? After suffering 27 years, I figured it out on my own and then my doc congratulated me for figuring it out on my own.

Seems the dairy Industry has a lot of say on keeping dairy off the list of foods that can trigger migraines.

I went from having 25+ migraines a month to 0.

In my migraine journey, the best meds I was ever on were cambia powder packs and maxalt melts.

You may want to invest in a food sensitivity test (insurance will not cover it). But, it can be the key to becoming migraine free.

[Purple_22 in reply to CINDY471]

Hello Cindy471 I was dairy free for years as well as sugar and gluten free. Unfortunately there was no changes in my migraines.You never know what’s going to work for you so I try anything I can to help myself before turning to the medications, but so far I’m not having much luck. I just keep searching….I’m happy you found something that works for you.

[troy04]

Hello CINDY471, I think Purple_22 was looking for prophylaxis (preventive measure). Cambia is a pain killer and Maxalt is a triptan - both should work when migraine has started (or at the onset).

However, you made a very good point, if anyone can become completely dairy free (no need to be vegan, so can eat some fish or chicken) - it may make a significant difference. For some people though, dairy is not the trigger (or only trigger), but we have to try and test it.

For myself - I can confirm if I do not eat cheese or creamy stuff / yogurt / butter / latte etc I get less migraine.

For many people, red meat is a trigger but migraine comes after a day or two (after consumption).