Observations placeholder
Exacerbation of Lewy bodies dementia due to memantine
Identifier
012988
Type of Spiritual Experience
Background
A description of the experience
J Alzheimers Dis. 2005 Dec;8(3):289-91.
Exacerbation of Lewy bodies dementia due to memantine.
Menendez-Gonzalez M1, Calatayud MT, Blazquez-Menes B.
- 1Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Secretaria de Neurologia, Oviedo, Spain. manuelmenendez@gmail.com
INTRODUCTION: Lewy body dementia (DLB) is common but frequently misdiagnosed as Alzheimer's disease plus delirium or parkinsonism. DRUGS USED IN THIS DISORDER CAN CAUSE EXACERBATIONS: neuroleptic medication is relatively contraindicated because some patients show severe neuroleptic sensitivity, antiparkinsonian medication has the potential to exacerbate psychotic symptoms, and even cholinesterase inhibitors, while relatively safe, have provoked adverse responses in some DLB patients. There are few data available about the use of memantine in DLB.
CASE PRESENTATION: A 74-year-old man was diagnosed with Alzheimer disease and parkinsonism. After memantine was started he developed severe fluctuations in awareness, visual hallucinations, agitation, and worsened parkinsonism. When he was evaluated thoroughly, the diagnosis was revised to Lewy body dementia, leading to changes in treatment that were associated with dramatic improvement in the patient's mental status.
CONCLUSIONS: In our patient, motor and cognitive symptoms worsened with memantine treatment; these resolved after memantine was discontinued.
PMID: 16340086
The source of the experience
PubMedConcepts, symbols and science items
Concepts
Symbols
Science Items
Activities and commonsteps
Activities
Overloads
Alzheimers disease drugsSuppressions
Dementia and AlzheimersParkinsons disease