Abstract
Objective. Glutamate, an excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system (CNS), may play a role in the development of anxiety. Memantine partially blocks N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors' glutamate channels located in the CNS. This paper evaluates memantine as an augmentation therapy for treatment of anxiety. Methods. 15 consecutive partially responding anxious patients were treated with adjunctive memantine for 10 weeks. Memantine was dosed 5–20 mg/day. Result. Memantine augmentation resulted in clinically relevant reduction in anxiety symptoms when compared to baseline. Forty percent of patients achieved remission (HAM-A ≥ 7). Memantine improved sleep quality. Mean dose was 14 mg/d (range 5–20 mg/d). Typical adverse events included nausea and headache. Conclusion. The NMDA receptor antagonist memantine may be an effective augmentation therapy in patients with treatment-resistant anxiety.
Highlights
Anxiety disorders are some of the most occurring forms of psychiatric disorders seen in clinical practice and are associated with a 1-year prevalence rate of 12% in adults [1]
Augmentation therapy is a common approach to managing patients who remain symptomatic despite adequate treatment with conventional antidepressant anxiolytics [3]
(i) male and female outpatients aged 18–65 with a DSMIV diagnosis of either generalized or social anxiety disorder based on MINI diagnostic interview; (ii) rating of at least “moderately ill” on the Clinical Global Impressions of Severity (CGI-S) scale and score of at least 10 on Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) and 5 on Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) anxiety subscale; (iii) failure to respond adequately to trial of conventional anxiolytic; (iv) adequate treatment duration was considered 4 weeks at therapeutic dose; (v) adequate response is defined as an improvement of ≥50% in symptoms of anxiety on current anxiolytic therapy, as measured subjectively by patients or objectively by physician; (vi) stable on current psychiatric medication for ≥6 weeks prior to study entry
Summary
An excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system (CNS), may play a role in the development of anxiety. Memantine partially blocks N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors’ glutamate channels located in the CNS. This paper evaluates memantine as an augmentation therapy for treatment of anxiety. 15 consecutive partially responding anxious patients were treated with adjunctive memantine for 10 weeks. Memantine augmentation resulted in clinically relevant reduction in anxiety symptoms when compared to baseline. Forty percent of patients achieved remission (HAM-A ≥ 7). Mean dose was 14 mg/d (range 5–20 mg/d). Typical adverse events included nausea and headache. The NMDA receptor antagonist memantine may be an effective augmentation therapy in patients with treatment-resistant anxiety
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
