Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders Extra (Jan 2011)

An Open-Label, Multicenter Observational Study for Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease Treated with Memantine in the Clinical Practice

  • S.S. Stamouli,
  • M. Tzanakaki,
  • S. Giatas,
  • G. Georgiadis,
  • E. Papalexi,
  • I.A. Parashos

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1159/000322882
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 1, no. 1
pp. 10 – 19

Abstract

Read online

Background/Aims: In this post-marketing observational study, the safety and effectiveness of memantine were evaluated in patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Methods: In a 6-month, observational, open-label study at 202 specialist sites in Greece, the effectiveness of memantine was evaluated using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) scale at baseline, and after 3 and 6 months. Discontinuation rates and adverse drug reactions (ADRs) were also recorded to evaluate the safety profile of memantine. Results: 2,570 patients participated in the study. Three and 6 months after baseline, MMSE and IADL scores were significantly improved compared to baseline. At the end of the study, 67% of the patients had improved their MMSE score; 7.1% of the patients reported ≧1 ADRs, and treatment was discontinued due to ADR in 0.7%. Conclusion: Memantine was well tolerated and had a positive effect on the patient’s cognitive and functional ability in real-life clinical practice, in agreement with randomized, controlled trials.

Keywords