Ebixa

Ebixa comes in tablet form and treats the symptoms associated with Alzheimer's disease, particularly loss of memory, the capacity to carry out normal daily tasks and clarity in speech and behaviour. Ebixa is not a cure for Alzheimer's, as unfortunately there is currently no cure, however, it can help manage the symptoms of this common disease and so benefit sufferers. Ebixa medication is available on prescription. It can help manage the symptoms of Alzeimer’s, one of the conditions associated with dementia. Ebixa can help to treat the behavioural and psychological symptoms of moderate to severe Alzeimer’s, a common disease that causes memory loss and other neurological disorders.

Ebixa memantine comes in tablet form and treats the symptoms associated with Alzheimer’s disease, particularly loss of memory, the capacity to carry out normal daily tasks and clarity in speech and behaviour. Ebixa medication is not a cure for Alzheimer’s, as unfortunately there is currently no cure, however, it can help manage the symptoms of this common disease and so benefit sufferers.

Ebixa is the brand name for memantine hydrochloride, a medicine that blocks the effects of an excessive amount of a chemical that occurs naturally in the brain called glutamate. It is part of a group of medicines known as NMDA receptor antagonists, which can help control memory function. Ebixa memantine is approved by NICE, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.

Ebixa is used when a person has been diagnosed with severe to moderate Alzheimer’s disease and a doctor considers it could help treat the symptoms of this disease and therefore give the person a better quality of life. Its effectiveness will depend on the individual’s stage of the disease. Dementia is usually a slow-progressing disease that can take up to 10 years to fully develop, from the first symptoms such as mild confusion and forgetting things to the last stages when a person cannot look after themselves any longer.

The most common forms of dementia are:

• Alzheimer’s disease;
• Vascular dementia.

Alzheimer’s disease is a form of dementia, which is a condition that affects how the brain works (cognitive performance). It is believed to occur due to a combination of genetic, lifestyle and environmental circumstances. It typically follows three stages:

• Stage one:
  It becomes hard to learn new information, find words, remember what happened recently (short-term memory) and carry out simple activities that require planning and organisation.
• Stage two:
  Long term memories can be lost and being able to think clearly and logically becomes more difficult. Sometimes people wander from the home and do not know how to get back. They may not dress appropriately for the weather. People at this stage of Alzheimer’s disease can also get agitated and angry very quickly, due to feeling like they are not being understood by those around them. There may also be incontinence at this stage.
• Stage three:
  At this late stage self-care becomes impossible. A person might not shower, clean their teeth or get dressed and is unlikely to remember when to eat. They may display strange behaviour such as putting inappropriate things in cupboards or the fridge, hallucinating, not going to bed at night and show a general inability to look after themselves. At this stage, the person will need full-time care. They are often immobile and stay in bed or a chair. They may not speak or communicate and have to be helped to eat and drink. It might seem like the person has ‘shut down’ as they will appear not to know the people around them. Sometimes people at this stage become aggressive towards family and caregivers, which can be upsetting. Unfortunately, this is part of this stage of this disease, but it can be dealt with by holding the person’s hand, hugging them, and talking to them quietly.

Vascular dementia is caused by small blood clots preventing oxygen from reaching the brain. This is sometimes referred to as a TIA (Transient Ischaemic Attack) or a mini-stroke. It should be noted that Ebixa is not recommended for vascular dementia – the above is for information on the different forms of dementia only. Ebixa unfortunately is not helpful in vascular dementia.

Dementia usually occurs in people over the age of 65, as it is an age-related condition, although it can sometimes affect younger people. According to Dementia UK, more than 850,000 people in the UK have dementia, in various stages, and this number is expected to rise to over one million by 2021.

Taking Ebixa medication to help with the symptoms of dementia can benefit both the patient and the people around them, whether family or in a more advanced stage of the disease, people who are caring for them. Ebixa blocks the effects of the chemical glutamate that is a neurotransmitter. This sends signals to the nerve cells in the brain to create and retrieve memories. Glutamate helps the neurons (nerve cells) to communicate with each other and allow the memory part of the brain to function correctly. However, sometimes there is an excess of glutamate which can kill the nerve cells. This is a cause of Alzheimer’s disease. Ebixa can help prevent excess glutamate forming and causing damage. It cannot cure the symptoms that cause memory loss, but it can help slow them down. Glutamate is also found in foods that contain protein, such as fish and eggs, and in certain fruit and vegetables, such as bananas, avocadoes and tomatoes.

Ebixa may also be prescribed by a doctor to take with other medications to help the concentration and memory problems associated with Alzheimer’s disease, which are known as cholinesterase inhibitors. These prevent the breakdown of another substance in the brain that is known as acetylcholine, which facilitates how the memory works.

If dementia is suspected it is important to get an early diagnosis as there could be an underlying condition that might be causing the symptoms. There is a difference between forgetting things as we get older and the symptoms that might be behind a form of dementia.

Some of the warning signs that a person may be developing dementia include:

• Frequently forgetting things short-term, such as birthdays, names, where items have been put; Not knowing what time of day it is and the correct times to eat, go to bed, get up etc.;
• A general sense of confusion and not understanding what is happening;
• Not wanting to carry out normal activities such as reading, walking, watching TV, gardening etc.; Difficulty making oneself understood, finding the right words;
• Being unable to write neatly;
• Repeating oneself several times when speaking; Mood swings;
• Inability to make decisions and correct judgements on basic tasks;
• Being unaware of danger – such as leaving electrical appliances switched on; Inability to solve problems, no matter how small;
• Not recognising family members and friends.

Ebixa comes in two doses, Ebixa 10 mg and Ebixa 20 mg.

The patient should not take more than the dose prescribed by their doctor. This is likely to be gradually increased to a suitable dose so the body gets used to the medication and there is a lesser chance of suffering from side effects. Ebixa 10 mg will likely be the starting dose, although it is possible to be prescribed a starter pack, which supplies the Ebixa tablets in different doses.

The Ebixa tablet should be taken at the same time every day with a glass of water. It should be swallowed whole and not chewed.

You can get Enixa 10 mg or Ebixa 20 mg. The usual dosage is to take one tablet once a day. This is achieved by gradually building up the dose.

Below is a common dosage plan for starting to take Ebixa:

• Week 1 half an Ebixa 10 mg tablet;
• Week 2 one Ebixa 10 mg tablet;
• Week 3 one and a half Ebixa 10 mg tablet;
• Week 4 and beyond two Ebixa 10 mg tablets once a day.

It is important to take the dose prescribed by a doctor.

As with all medicines, there is the possibility of side effects when taking Ebixa. These may include:

• Headache;
• Drowsiness;
• Dizziness;
• Shortness of breath;
• Constipation;
• Fatigue;
• High blood pressure.

If the patient suffers from these or other side effects a doctor should be consulted.

A person should not use Ebixa if they:

• Are allergic to any of the ingredients on the package leaflet;
• Are under 18 years of age.

It is particularly important to inform a doctor before taking Ebixa if the patient;

• Has a history of epilepsy;
• Has recently had a heart attack (myocardial infarction);
• Is suffering from heart failure;
• Has high blood pressure.

A doctor should decide in these situations if the benefit of taking Ebixa medication outweighs the risks of taking it when suffering from the above conditions.

It is important to tell a doctor if the patient is taking any other medications as Ebixa may interact with them. This includes herbal medicines.

The doctor should also be informed of any pre-existing medical conditions the patient has.

Ebixa can only be prescribed by a doctor. It cannot be bought over the counter at a pharmacy.

No, you cannot get Ebixa without a prescription.

Alzeimher’s Society. (N.D.). Retrieved 17 March, 2020 from https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/

Dementia UK. (N.D.). Retreived 18 March, 2020 from https://www.dementiauk.org/

Memantine, oral tablet. (n.d.). Retrieved March 17, 2020 from https://www.healthline.com/health/memantine-oral-tablet

McShane R, Westby MJ, Roberts E, Minakaran N, Schneider L, Farrimond LE, Maayan N, Ware J, Debarros J. 20 March, 2019.

Memantine as a treatment for dementia. Retrieved 17 March, 2020 from https://www.cochrane.org/CD003154/DEMENTIA_memantine-treatment-dementia

Package leaflet: information for the user Ebixa 10 mg film-coated tablets Memantine hydrochloride. (2010, June). Retrieved March 17, 2020 from https://s3-eu-west- 1.amazonaws.com/docomimg2.s3.amazonaws.com/leaflets/en/patient_information_leaflet-653-ebixa-uk.pdf- 1510756507.pdf

The National Center for Bio technology Information (NCBI). Alzheimer’s disease: Does memantine help? (2017, June 29.) Retrieved March 17, 2020 from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279356/