Memantine

Category: nootropic

Aliases: Namenda

Pharmacological Mechanism

Uncompetitive NMDA receptor antagonist with low-to-moderate affinity — preferentially blocks pathologically over-activated channels while sparing physiologic glutamate signaling. FDA-approved for moderate-to-severe Alzheimer's disease.

Half-Life (t½)

PO: 70h

Dosing Guidelines

• PO: Typical 20 mg (Range: 5–20 mg)

Target Organ Systems

• nervous

Pathways It Modulates

• Alzheimer disease (inhibitor) — NMDA receptor (use-dependent; reduces excitotoxic injury)
• BDNF / TrkB neurotrophic signaling (activator) — BDNF (chronic NMDA modulation)
• Glutamate receptor pharmacology (inhibitor) — NMDA channel pore (moderate affinity, uncompetitive)
• Metabotropic glutamate receptors (inhibitor) — NMDA channel-blocker; weak mGluR effect; AD

Chemical Identifiers

• PubChem CID: 4054
• Formula: C12H21N
• Molecular weight: 179.3 g/mol
• InChIKey: BUGYDGFZZOZRHP-UHFFFAOYSA-N
• SMILES: CC12CC3CC(C1)(CC(C3)(C2)N)C

References

• PMID 18498913