Important Risk Information
NAMZARIC is approved for the treatment of moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease in patients who are currently taking and can continue to take certain doses of both NAMENDA© (memantine HCl) or NAMENDA XR© (memantine HCl) and donepezil HCl, the active ingredient in Aricept©. NAMZARIC is available by prescription only.
There is no evidence that NAMZARIC prevents or slows the underlying disease process in patients with Alzheimer's disease.
Who should not take NAMZARIC?
NAMZARIC should not be taken by anyone who has an allergy to memantine HCl, donepezil HCl, medicines that contain piperidines, or any of the ingredients in NAMZARIC.
What should be discussed with the healthcare provider before taking NAMZARIC?
Before starting NAMZARIC, talk to the healthcare provider about all of the patient's medical conditions, including:
- heart problems including an irregular, slow, or fast heartbeat
- asthma or lung problems
- seizures
- stomach ulcers
- bladder, kidney, or liver problems
- any surgical, dental, or other medical procedures scheduled when anesthesia may be used
Tell the healthcare provider about all the medicines the patient is taking, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
What are the possible side effects of NAMZARIC?
NAMZARIC may cause serious side effects, including:
- muscle problems in patients given anesthesia
- slow heartbeat and fainting. This happens more often in people with heart problems. Call the doctor right away if the patient faints while taking NAMZARIC
- more stomach acid. This raises the chance of ulcers and bleeding especially when taking NAMZARIC. The risk is higher for patients who have had ulcers, or take aspirin or other NSAIDs
- nausea and vomiting
- difficulty passing urine
- seizures
- worsening of lung problems in people with asthma or other lung disease
The most common side effects of donepezil HCl include: diarrhea, not wanting to eat (anorexia), and bruising.
These are not all the possible side effects of NAMZARIC.