Patient Information Leaflet
Memantina TecniGen 20 mg Film-Coated Tablets
Memantine Hydrochloride
Read this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine because it contains important information for you.
1.What is Memantina TecniGen and what it is used for
2.What you need to know before starting to take Memantina TecniGen
3.How to take Memantina TecniGen
4.Possible side effects
5Storage of Memantina TecniGen
6.Contents of the pack and additional information
How Memantina TecniGen works
Memantina TecniGen belongs to a group of medications known as dementia medications.
The loss of memory in Alzheimer's disease is due to an alteration in brain signals. The brain contains receptors called N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) that participate in the transmission of important nerve signals in learning and memory. Memantina TecniGen belongs to the group of medications called NMDA receptor antagonists. Memantina TecniGen acts on these receptors by improving the transmission of nerve signals and memory.
What Memantina TecniGen is used for
Memantina TecniGen is used in the treatment of patients with moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease.
Do not take Memantina TecniGen
If you are allergic to hydrochloride memantine or to any of the other components of this medication (listed in section 6).
Warnings and precautions
Consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting to take Memantina TecniGen:
In the above situations, treatment must be closely monitored and your doctor must reevaluate the clinical benefit of memantine regularly.
If you have renal insufficiency (kidney problems), your doctor must closely monitor renal function and, if necessary, adapt memantine doses.
Memantine use should be avoided with other medications such as amantadine (for Parkinson's treatment), ketamine (a medication generally used as an anesthetic), dextromethorphan (a medication for cough treatment) and other NMDA antagonists.
Memantine use is not recommended in children and adolescents under 18 years old.
Taking Memantina TecniGen with other medications
Inform your doctor or pharmacist if you are using, have used recently or may need to use any other medication, including those purchased without a prescription.
Specifically, the administration of memantine may produce changes in the effects of the following medications, so your doctor may need to adjust the dose:
amantadine, ketamine, dextromethorphan,
dantrolene, baclofen,
cimetidine, ranitidine, procainamide, quinidine, quinine, nicotine,
hydrochlorothiazide (or any combination with hydrochlorothiazide),
anticholinergics (substances generally used to treat movement disorders or intestinal spasms),
anticonvulsants (substances used to prevent and eliminate seizures),
barbiturates (substances generally used to induce sleep),
dopamine agonists (substances like L-dopa, bromocriptine),
neuroleptics (substances used in the treatment of mental illnesses),
oral anticoagulants.
If you are admitted to a hospital, inform your doctor that you are taking Memantina TecniGen.
Taking Memantina TecniGen with food, drinks and alcohol
You should inform your doctor if you have recently changed or plan to change your diet significantly (for example from a normal diet to a strict vegetarian diet) or if you have renal tubular acidosis (ATR, excess acid-producing substances in the blood due to renal dysfunction) or severe urinary tract infections, as your doctor may need to adjust the medication dose.
Pregnancy, breastfeeding and fertility
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, think you may be pregnant or plan to be, consult your doctor or pharmacist before taking this medication.
Memantine use is not recommended in pregnant women.
Women taking Memantina TecniGen should discontinue breastfeeding.
Driving and operating machines
Your doctor will inform you if your condition allows you to drive and use machines safely.
Furthermore, Memantina TecniGen may alter your reaction time, so driving or operating machines may be inappropriate.
Memantina TecniGen contains Yellow Orange S (E110)
This medication may cause allergic reactions because it contains Yellow Orange S (E110). It may provoke asthma, especially in patients allergic to acetylsalicylic acid.
Memantina TecniGen contains sodium
This medication contains less than 23 mg of sodium (1mmol) per coated tablet; it is essentially “sodium-free”.
Follow exactly the administration instructions for this medication as indicated by your doctor. Consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have any doubts.
Dosage
The recommended dose for adults and elderly patients is 20 mg administered once a day.
To reduce the risk of adverse effects, this dose should be achieved gradually following a daily treatment schedule. There are tablets with different doses available to adjust the dose.
At the beginning of treatment, you will start taking Memantina TecniGen 5 mg film-coated tablets once a day. This dose will be increased weekly by 5 mg until the recommended maintenance dose is reached. The recommended maintenance dose is 20 mg once a day, which is reached at the beginning of the fourth week.
Dosage for patients with renal insufficiency
If you have kidney problems, your doctor will decide on the appropriate dose for your condition. In this case, your doctor should monitor your renal function periodically.
Administration
Memantina TecniGen should be taken orally once a day. To get the most out of your medication, you should take it every day at the same time. The tablets should be swallowed with a little water. The tablets can be taken with or without food.
Treatment duration
Continue taking Memantina TecniGen as long as it is beneficial for you. Your doctor should evaluate the effects of your treatment periodically.
If you take more Memantina TecniGen than you should
In case of overdose or accidental ingestion, consult your doctor or pharmacist immediately or call the Toxicology Information Service (phone 91 562 04 20), indicating the medication and the amount taken.
Generally, taking an excessive amount of Memantina TecniGen should not cause any harm. You may experience an increase in the symptoms described in section 4 “Possible adverse effects”.
If you take an overdose of Memantina TecniGen, contact your doctor or seek medical advice, as you may need medical attention.
If you forgot to take Memantina TecniGen
If you realize you have forgotten to take your memantine dose, wait and take the next dose at the usual time.
Do not take a double dose to compensate for the missed dose.
If you have any other questions about the use of this medication, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Like all medications, Memantina TecniGen may produce adverse effects, although not all people will experience them.
Adverse effects are generally classified as mild to moderate.
Frequent (may affect between 1 and 10 of every 100 patients):
• Headache, drowsiness, constipation, elevated liver function tests, dizziness, balance alteration, difficult breathing, high blood pressure, and hypersensitivity to the medication.
Poorly Frequent (may affect between 1 and 10 of every 1,000 patients):
• Fatigue, fungal infections, confusion, hallucinations, vomiting, gait alteration, heart failure, and formation of blood clots in the venous system (venous thrombosis/thromboembolism).
Very Rare (may affect fewer than 1 of every 10,000 patients):
• Seizures.
Unknown Frequency (frequency cannot be estimated from available data):
• Pancreatitis, hepatitis (inflammation of the liver), and psychotic reactions.
Alzheimer's disease has been linked to depression, suicidal ideation, and suicide. These events have been reported in patients treated with memantina.
If you consider any of the adverse effects you are experiencing to be severe or if you notice any adverse effects not mentioned in this prospectus, inform your doctor or pharmacist.
If you experience adverse effects, consult your doctor or pharmacist,even if they are adverse effects not listed in this prospectus.
Keep this medication out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not use this medication after the expiration date that appears on the blister pack and on the box after CAD. The expiration date is the last day of the month indicated.
Thismedicationdoes not require special storage conditions.
Medicines should not be disposed of through drains or in the trash. Dispose of the packaging and medicines you no longer need at the SIGRE collection point at the pharmacy. If in doubt, ask your pharmacist how to dispose of the packaging and medicines you no longer need. By doing so, you will help protect the environment.
Composition of Memantina TecniGen
The active ingredient is hydrochloride of memantine. Each film-coated tablet contains 20 mg of hydrochloride of memantine, which are equivalent to 16.62 mg of memantine.
The other components are microcrystalline cellulose, povidone K-25, sodium croscarmellose and magnesium stearate, in the tablet core; and hydroxypropylcellulose, hypromellose, talc, titanium dioxide (E171), yellow iron oxide (E172), red iron oxide (E172) and yellow orange S (E110) in the tablet coating.
Appearance of the product and contents of the package
Memantina TecniGen is presented in the form of film-coated tablets of pink to orange color and elliptical biconvex shape.
Memantina TecniGen tablets are presented in packages of 28 and 56 tablets.
Only some package sizes may be commercially marketed.
Holder of the marketing authorization
Tecnimede España Industria Farmacéutica, S.A.
Avda. de Bruselas, 13, 3rd floor.
28108 Alcobendas (Madrid) SPAIN
Responsible for manufacturing
Atlantic Pharma – Produções Farmacêuticas, S.A.
Rua da Tapada Grande, n.º 2; Abrunheira, 2710-089 Sintra, Portugal
This medicine is authorized in the member states of the European Economic Area with the following names:
Portugal: Memantina TecniGen
Italy: Memantina Tecnimede
Spain: Memantina TecniGen 20 mg film-coated tablets EFG
Date of the last review of this leaflet:July 2023
The detailed and updated information of this medicine is available on the website of the Spanish Agency of Medicines and Medical Devices (AEMPS) http: //www.aemps.gob.es/
Have questions about this medication or your symptoms? Connect with a licensed doctor for guidance and personalized care.