Namenda and Pregnancy: An Overview
Namenda® (
memantine hydrochloride) is a prescription medication approved to treat
Alzheimer's disease. Based on animal studies, Namenda appears to be safe for use during pregnancy. However, the medicine has not been adequately studied in pregnant humans.
Namenda and Pregnancy Category B
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) uses a category system to classify the possible risks to a fetus when a specific medicine is taken during pregnancy. Pregnancy Category B is given to medicines that have not been adequately studied in pregnant humans but that do not appear to cause harm to the fetus in animal studies. In studies, Namenda did not cause problems when it was given to pregnant rats and rabbits.
However, it is important to note that animals do not always respond to medicines the same way that humans do. Therefore, a pregnancy Category B medicine should be given to a pregnant woman only if her healthcare provider believes that the benefits to the woman outweigh any possible risks to the unborn child. It is important to note that Namenda is approved only for the treatment of
Alzheimer's disease, which is not likely to occur in women of childbearing age.
Namenda and Pregnancy: Final Thoughts
If you are pregnant or are thinking about becoming pregnant, let your healthcare provider know. He or she will consider the benefits and risks of taking Namenda during pregnancy before making a recommendation in your particular situation.
