Effect of memantine (NMDA antagonist) on Parkinson's disease: a double-blind crossover randomized study

Our aim was to evaluate the effect of Memantine (1-amino 3,5-dimethyl-adamantane hydrochloride) on cardinal symptoms of Parkinson's disease and on the latency, duration, and magnitude of the response to a single dose of L-Dopa and on drug-induced dyskinesias. Twelve Hoehn-Yahr III-IV patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease with motor fluctuations and drug-induced dyskinesias were randomized to the NMDA antagonist memantine or placebo in a cross-over design. A single-dose L-Dopa challenge was performed after each medication arm. A significant drug effect on the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale motor score was observed in "off" and "on" states (F(1,11) = 13.5; p < 0.003). No significant effect on drug-induced dyskinesias was seen. The results suggest that memantine may improve parkinsonian symptoms independently of dopaminergic drugs and, in contrast to recent findings with amantadine, it has no effect on drug-induced dyskinesias.