Currently, Namenda is one of the leading medications on the market prescribed to help treat dementia and memory loss in those diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Available both as its name brand and in generic form, Namenda is an NMDA (N-Methyl D-Aspartate) receptor agonist, a central nervous system agent that decreases abnormal brain activity, helping to improve or slow the loss of cognitive abilities in those with Alzheimer’s disease.
Now it appears as if the uses of Namenda may be expanding. New research indicates that Namenda may be useful in treating two more, seemingly unrelated, conditions – fibromyalgia and OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder).
Namenda and Fibromyalgia
A study out of Spain has found that a promising off-label use of Namenda may be treatment of the symptoms of fibromyalgia, a disorder marked by widespread pain, mood and memory problems, and fatigue and loss of sleep. It is believed to be caused by overly-stimulated NMDA receptors.
The double-blind study focused on uses of Namenda as a pain reliever on the premise that as an NMDA receptor agonist it would act to improve conditions by calming NMDA receptors. The results were encouraging. Over the six-month trial, those who suffered from fibromyalgia had a reduction in pain and an improvement in cognitive functioning as compared to the control group. However, further testing will still be needed.
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| Namenda Medication. Source: nih.gov |
Namenda and OCD
A prevalent theory about a cause of OCD in certain individuals is that it may be linked to high levels of glutamate in the brain, a substance that stimulates neurotransmitters. Because abnormally high levels of this substance causes neuron damage, research is being conducted to find drugs that safely target glutamates to mitigate their impact. Several studies have found that NMDA receptor agonists like Namenda change how neurons respond to glutamates. Positive results in populations with OCD have been observed when Namenda has been incorporated into standard medication therapy.
Further Uses for Namenda
Building on the research into the impact of NMDA receptor agonists, it is now thought that drugs such as Namenda can be used to treat several other conditions, including chronic pain following breast cancer surgery and depression.
Because the side effects of Namenda are mild and negative interactions with other drugs are rare, further research in all of these areas is likely. If initial results hold, Namenda could change the landscape for treating NMDA-related conditions.
