1. WHAT ZEIMER IS AND WHAT IT IS USED FOR

ZEIMER belongs to a group of medicines known as anti-dementia medicines.
Memory loss in Alzheimer’s disease is due to a disturbance of message signals in the brain. The brain
contains so-called N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-receptors that are involved in transmitting nerve
signals important in learning and memory. ZEIMER belongs to a group of medicines called NMDAreceptor
antagonists. ZEIMER acts on these NMDA-receptors improving the transmission of nerve
signals and the memory.
What is ZEIMER used for

ZEIMER is used for the treatment of patients with moderate to severe Alzheimer’s disease.

Do not take ZEIMER
- If you are allergic to memantine hydrochloride or any of the other ingredients of this medicine
(listed in section 6).
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking ZEIMER
- If you have a history of epileptic seizures.
- If you have recently experienced a myocardial infarction (heart attack), or if you are suffering
from congestive heart failure or from an uncontrolled hypertension (high blood pressure).
In these situations the treatment should be carefully supervised, and the clinical benefit of ZEIMER
reassessed by your doctor on a regular basis.
If you suffer from renal impairment (kidney problems), your doctor should closely monitor your kidney
function and if necessary adapt the memantine doses accordingly.
The use of medicinal products called amantadine (for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease), ketamine (a
substance generally used as an anesthetic), dextromethorphan (generally used to treat cough) and other
NMDA-antagonists at the same time should be avoided.
Children and adolescents
ZEIMER is not recommended for children and adolescents under the age of 18 years.
Other medicines and ZEIMER
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines.
In particular, ZEIMER may change the effects of the following medicines and their dose may need to be
adjusted by your doctor:
- 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 cramps).
- Anticonvulsants (substances used to prevent and relieve seizures).
- Barbiturates (substances generally used to induce sleep).
- Dopaminergic agonists (substances such as L-dopa, bromocriptine).
- Neuroleptics (substances used in the treatment of mental disorders).
- Oral anticoagulants.
If you go into hospital, let your doctor know that you are taking ZEIMER.
ZEIMER with food and drink
You should inform your doctor if you have recently changed or intend to change your diet substantially
(e.g. from normal diet to strict vegetarian diet) or if you are suffering from states of renal tubulary
acidosis (RTA, an excess of acid-forming substances in the blood due to renal dysfunction (poor kidney
function)) or severe infections of the urinary tract (structure that carries urine), as your doctor may
need to adjust the dose of your medicine.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask
your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.
The use of memantine in pregnant women is not recommended.
Women taking ZEIMER should not breast-feed.
Driving and using machines
Your doctor will tell you whether your illness allows you to drive and to use machines safely. Also,
ZEIMER may change your reactivity, making driving or operating machinery inappropriate.

Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or
pharmacist if you are not sure.
Dosage:

The recommended dose of ZEIMER for adults and elderly patients is 20 mg once a day.
In order to reduce the risk of side effects this dose is achieved gradually by the following daily treatment
scheme:

The usual starting dose is half a tablet once a day (1x 5 mg) for the first week. This is increased to one
tablet once a day (1x 10 mg) in the second week and to 1 and a half tablets once a day (1x 15 mg) in
the third week. From the fourth week on, the usual dose is 2 tablets once a day (1x 20 mg).
Dosage in patients with impaired kidney function
If you have impaired kidney function, your doctor will decide upon a dose that suits your condition. In
this case, monitoring of your kidney function should be performed by your doctor at specified intervals.
Administration
ZEIMER should be administered orally once a day. To benefit from your medicine you should take it
regularly every day at the same time of the day. The tablets should be swallowed with some water. The
tablets can be taken with or without food.
Duration of treatment
Continue to take ZEIMER as long as it is of benefit to you. Your doctor should assess your treatment on a
regular basis.
If you take more ZEIMER than you should
- In general, taking too much ZEIMER should not result in any harm to you. You may experience
increased symptoms as described in section 4 ‘Possible side effects’.
- If you take a large overdose of ZEIMER, contact your doctor or get medical advice, as you may
need medical attention.
If you forget to take ZEIMER

- If you find you have forgotten to take your dose of ZEIMER, wait and take your next dose at the
usual time.
- Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.
If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Common (affects 1 to 10 users in 100)
- Headache, sleepiness, constipation, elevated liver function test, dizziness, balance disorders,
shortness of breath, high blood pressure and drug hypersensitivity.
Uncommon (affects 1 to 10 users in 1,000)
- Tiredness, fungal infections, confusion, hallucinations, vomiting, abnormal gait, heart failure
and venous blood clotting (thrombosis/thromboembolism).
Very Rare (affects less than 1 user in 10,000)
- Seizures.
Not known (frequency cannot be estimated from the available data)
- Inflammation of the pancreas, inflammation of the liver (hepatitis) and psychotic reactions
Alzheimer’s disease has been associated with depression, suicidal ideation and suicide. These events
have been reported in patients treated with memantine.
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not
listed in this leaflet.

Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the carton, blister and container label
after ‘EXP’. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.

Do not store above 30°C.
Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to
throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.