{{#arraydefine: InhaledDosage | Threshold;, Light;, Common;, Strong;, Heavy; }} {{#arraydefine: InhaledDuration | Total;, Onset;, Come up;, Peak;, Offset;, After effects; }} {{#arraydefine: SmokedDosage | Threshold;< x mg, Light;x - x mg, Common;x - x mg, Strong;x - x mg, Heavy;> x mg }} {{#arraydefine: SmokedDuration | Total;x minutes, Onset;x seconds, Come up;, Peak;x minutes, Offset;x hours, After effects;x hours }} {{#arraydefine: OralDosage | Threshold;Oral threshold dose::10Oral dose units::mg, Light;Oral min light dose::30 - Oral max light dose::70 mg, Common;Oral min common dose::70 - Oral max common dose::110 mg, Strong;Oral min strong dose::110 - Oral max strong dose::170 mg, Heavy;Oral heavy dose::170 mg + }} {{#arraydefine: OralDuration | Total;~ Oral min total time::18 - Oral max total time::36Oral total time units::hours, Onset;Oral min onset time::30 - Oral max onset time::180Oral onset time units::minutes, Come up;Oral min comeup time::2 - Oral max comeup time::3Oral comeup time units::hours, Peak;Oral min peak time::3 - Oral max peak time::12Oral peak time units::hours, Offset;Oral min offset time::5 - Oral max offset time::24Oral offset time units::hours, After effects;Oral min afterglow time::8 - Oral max afterglow time::24Oral afterglow time units::hours }} {{#arraydefine: SublingualDosage | Threshold;, Light;, Common;, Strong;, Heavy; }} {{#arraydefine: SublingualDuration | Total;, Onset;, Come up;, Peak;, Offset;, After effects; }} {{#arraydefine: BuccalDosage | Threshold;, Light;, Common;, Strong;, Heavy; }} {{#arraydefine: BuccalDuration | Total;, Onset;, Come up;, Peak;, Offset;, After effects; }} {{#arraydefine: InsufflatedDosage | Threshold;, Light;, Common;, Strong;, Heavy; }} {{#arraydefine: InsufflatedDuration | Total;, Onset;, Come up;, Peak;, Offset;, After effects; }} {{#arraydefine: RectalDosage | Threshold;, Light;, Common;, Strong;, Heavy; }} {{#arraydefine: RectalDuration | Total;, Onset;, Come up;, Peak;, Offset;, After effects; }} {{#arraydefine: TransdermalDosage | Threshold;, Light;, Common;, Strong;, Heavy; }} {{#arraydefine: TransdermalDuration | Total;, Onset;, Come up;, Peak;, Offset;, After effects; }} {{#arraydefine: SubcutaneousDosage | Threshold;, Light;, Common;, Strong;, Heavy; }} {{#arraydefine: SubcutaneousDuration | Total;, Onset;, Come up;, Peak;, Offset;, After effects; }} {{#arraydefine: IntramuscularDosage | Threshold;, Light;, Common;, Strong;, Heavy; }} {{#arraydefine: IntramuscularDuration | Total;, Onset;, Come up;, Peak;, Offset;, After effects; }} {{#arraydefine: IntravenousDosage | Threshold;, Light;, Common;, Strong;, Heavy; }} {{#arraydefine: IntravenousDuration | Total;, Onset;, Come up;, Peak;, Offset;, After effects; }} {{#arraydefine: uncertaininteractions | {{#ask:Memantine |?UncertainInteraction |headers=hide |format=list |mainlabel=- |link=none }} }} {{#arraydefine: unsafeinteractions | {{#ask:Memantine |?UnsafeInteraction |headers=hide |format=list |mainlabel=- |link=none }} }} {{#arraydefine: dangerousinteractions | {{#ask:Memantine |?DangerousInteraction |headers=hide |format=list |mainlabel=- |link=none }} }} {{#arrayprint:uncertaininteractions||@@@@| }} {{#arrayprint:unsafeinteractions||@@@@| }} {{#arrayprint:dangerousinteractions||@@@@| }}

Memantine
Chemical Nomenclature
Common names	common name::Memantine, common name::Memaxa, common name::Ebixa, common name::Namenda, common name::Namenda XR, common name::Namzaric (with donepezil, common name::both extended-release)
Substitutive name	Memantine
Systematic name	3,5-Dimethyladamantan-1-amine
Class Membership
Psychoactive class	psychoactive class::Dissociative
Chemical class	chemical class::Adamantane
Routes of Administration
WARNING: Always start with lower doses due to differences between individual body weight, tolerance, metabolism, and personal sensitivity. See responsible use section. {{#arrayunique: OralDosage}} {{#loop: i | 0 | {{#arraysize: OralDosage}} | {{#arraydefine: val | {{#arrayindex: OralDosage | {{#var: i}} }} | ; }} }} {{#arrayunique: OralDuration}} {{#loop: i | 0 | {{#arraysize: OralDuration}} | {{#arraydefine: val | {{#arrayindex: OralDuration | {{#var: i}} }} | ; }} }} ⇣ Oral Dosage Bioavailability 41 - 63% [[Dosage_classification#{{#arrayindex: val | 0 }}|{{#arrayindex: val | 0 }}]] {{#arrayindex: val | 1 }} Duration [[Duration#{{#arrayindex: val | 0 }}|{{#arrayindex: val | 0 }}]] {{#arrayindex: val | 1 }} DISCLAIMER: PW's dosage information is gathered from users and resources for educational purposes only. It is not a recommendation and should be verified with other sources for accuracy.
Interactions
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Summary sheet: Memantine

Memantine is a dissociative substance of the Chemical class::adamantane class that produces long-lived Psychoactive class::dissociative effects when administered. It is a derivative of amantadine and is pharmacologically related to compounds like PCP, ketamine, and DXM, although its recreational use is comparatively rare.

Memantine was first synthesized by Eli Lilly and Company in 1968 as a potential agent to treat diabetes.

Memantine is classified as an NMDA receptor antagonist. This means it binds to and blocks the signaling of excitatory receptors in the central nervous system. These compounds induce a state known as "dissociative-anesthesia," which has a number of hallucinogenic attributes.

In medicine, memantine is used primarily in humans in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's disease. It also has seen use as a nootropic for its cognitive-enhancing effects.

Chemistry

Memantine, or 3,5-dimethyladamantan-1-amine, is a man-made molecule classified as a substituted adamantane derivative. Its core structure is adamantane, a diamondoid of four interlocked cyclohexane rings in a stable 3-dimensional lattice conformation. Memantine is substituted with a methyl carbon at both R₃ and R₅; it contains an amine substitution at R₁. Its name is derived from its structure; 3,5-dimethyladamantan-1-amine.

Pharmacology

Glutamatergic (NMDA receptor)

Further information: NMDA receptor antagonist

Memantine is a moderate-affinity voltage-dependent uncompetitive antagonist at glutamatergic NMDA receptors. NMDA receptors allow for electrical signals to pass between neurons in the brain and spinal column; for the signals to pass, the receptor must be open. Dissociatives close the NMDA receptors by blocking them. This disconnection of neurons leads to loss of feeling, difficulty moving, and eventually the famous “hole”.

Memantine is distinct from most other dissociatives due to its fast, voltage-dependent binding kinetics that allow for functional ionic transmission through the NMDA receptors unless in the presence of a large enough concentration of agonists, causing memantine to be more similar in pharmacodynamical profile at the NMDA receptor to endogenous magnesium than to other dissociatives. Memantine's unique pharmacological profile allows it to elicit neuroprotective properties at doses that lack strong amounts of impairment, making it useful in the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders.

Serotonergic (5-HT₃ receptor)

Memantine acts as a non-competitive antagonist at the 5-HT₃ receptor, with a potency similar to that for the NMDA receptor.

Cholinergic (nicotinic acetylcholine receptor)

Memantine acts as a non-competitive antagonist at different neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) at potencies possibly similar to the NMDA and 5-HT3 receptors, but this is difficult to ascertain with accuracy because of the rapid desensitization of nAChR responses. Alpha-7 nAChR upregulates quickly in response to antagonism, which could explain the cognitive-enhancing effects of chronic memantine treatment.

Dopaminergic (D₂ receptor)

Memantine acts as an agonist at the dopamine D₂ receptor with equal or slightly higher affinity than to the NMDA receptors.

Sigmaergic (σ1 receptor)

It acts as an agonist at the σ1 receptor with a low K_i of 2.6 µM. The effects of this activity are unclear (as the role of sigma receptors, in general, is not yet that well understood) and memantine is probably too weak at the sigma binding site to exhibit significant agonist effects, only exhibiting partial agonism or antagonism.

Subjective effects

Disclaimer: The effects listed below cite the Subjective Effect Index (SEI), an open research literature based on anecdotal user reports and the personal analyses of PsychonautWiki contributors. As a result, they should be viewed with a healthy degree of skepticism.

It is also worth noting that these effects will not necessarily occur in a predictable or reliable manner, although higher doses are more liable to induce the full spectrum of effects. Likewise, adverse effects become increasingly likely with higher doses and may include addiction, severe injury, or death ☠.

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Experience reports

Anecdotal reports which describe the effects of this compound within our experience index include: {{#ask: |format=ul|Columns=1}} Additional experience reports can be found here:

• Erowid Experience Vaults: Memantine

Toxicity and harm potential

Further information: Responsible use § Hallucinogens

The toxicity and long-term health effects of recreational memantine use do not seem to have been studied in any scientific context and the Toxicity::exact toxic dosage is unknown, although up to 400mg has been tolerated. This is because memantine has very little history of recreational human usage.

Anecdotal evidence from people who have tried memantine within the community suggests that there do not seem to be any negative health effects attributed to simply trying this drug at low to moderate doses by itself and using it sparingly (but nothing can be completely guaranteed). Independent research should always be done to ensure that a combination of two or more substances is safe before consumption.

Tolerance and addiction potential

The dependence potential for memantine is Addiction potential::unknown. However, due to its long duration and long onset, users are discouraged to redose, meaning it is unlikely users will develop an addiction.

Memantine presents cross-tolerance with [[Cross-tolerance::all dissociatives]], meaning that after the consumption of memantine all dissociatives will have a reduced effect.

Dangerous interactions

Memantine has very limited information on drug combinations and should therefore be treated with extreme caution when combined with other drugs.

Warning: Many psychoactive substances that are reasonably safe to use on their own can suddenly become dangerous and even life-threatening when combined with certain other substances. The following list provides some known dangerous interactions (although it is not guaranteed to include all of them).

Always conduct independent research (e.g. Google, DuckDuckGo, PubMed) to ensure that a combination of two or more substances is safe to consume. Some of the listed interactions have been sourced from TripSit.

• Stimulants - Both stimulants and dissociatives carry the risk of adverse psychological reactions like anxiety, mania, delusions and psychosis and these risks are exacerbated when the two substances are combined.
• Depressants - Because both depress the respiratory system, this combination can result in an increased risk of suddenly falling unconscious, vomiting and choking to death from the resulting suffocation. If nausea or vomiting occurs, users should attempt to fall asleep in the recovery position or have a friend move them into it.

Other interactions

• Cannabis - Cannabis is reported to increase the effects of memantine.
• Nicotine - Anecdotal reports suggest an interaction between tobacco and memantine.
• Opioids - Memantine is reported to increase the effects, prevent build up and in some cases reverse tolerance to opioids.
• Stimulants - Memantine is reported to increase the effects, prevent build up and in some cases reverse tolerance to stimulants.
• Alcohol - Memantine is reported to increase the effects, prevent build up and, in some cases, reverse tolerance to alcohol.

Legal status

File:Handcuffs-300px.png

This legality section is a stub. As such, it may contain incomplete or wrong information. You can help by expanding it.

• Australia: Memantine is S4, meaning it is available only with a prescription.
• France: Memantine is a restricted prescription medicine.
• Germany: Memantine is a prescription medicine, according to Anlage 1 AMVV.
• Russia: Memantine is only available through a prescription.
• Switzerland: Memantine is listed as a "Abgabekategorie B" pharmaceutical, which generally requires a prescription.
• United Kingdom: Memantine is a POM (prescription-only medicine).
• United States: Memantine is only available through a prescription.
• China: Memantine is a prescription drug.

See also

• Responsible use
• Hallucinogen
• Dissociative
• Ketamine

External links

• Memantine (Wikipedia)
• Memantine (Erowid Vault)
• Memantine (Isomer Design)
• Memantine (Drugs.com)
• Memantine (Drugs-Forum)

Literature

• Lipton, S. A. (2006). Paradigm shift in neuroprotection by NMDA receptor blockade: Memantine and beyond. Nature Reviews Drug Discovery, 5(2), 160. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrd1958

• Morris, H., & Wallach, J. (2014). From PCP to MXE: A comprehensive review of the non-medical use of dissociative drugs. Drug Testing and Analysis, 6(7–8), 614–632. https://doi.org/10.1002/dta.1620

References

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