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Updated: Jun 25, 2026
07:09
The Sciatic Nerve Cuffing Model of Neuropathic Pain in Mice
Published on: July 16, 2014
Memantine (Namenda) for neuropathic pain
Mailien Rogers1, Atif Rasheed, Abdolali Moradimehr
1Department of Internal Medicine, ETSU College of Medicine, Johnson City, Tennessee, USA.
The American Journal of Hospice & Palliative Care
|February 7, 2009
Summary
Neuropathic pain affects many palliative care patients and can lead to significant distress. Memantine, an NMDA receptor inhibitor, was explored for neuropathic pain but clinical trials did not support its routine use.
Area of Science:
- Palliative Care Medicine
- Pain Management
- Neuropharmacology
Background:
- Neuropathic pain is prevalent in palliative care, often leading to anxiety, depression, and social impairment.
- Current treatments for neuropathic pain are frequently inadequate, leading to underdiagnosis and under-treatment, with risks of adverse effects from long-term therapy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy and safety of memantine, an N-Methyl, D-aspartate receptor inhibitor, for treating neuropathic pain in palliative care patients.
Main Methods:
- Review of clinical trials investigating memantine for neuropathic pain.
- Assessment of memantine's proposed mechanism of action, safety profile, and onset of action.
Main Results:
- Clinical trials examining memantine for neuropathic pain have yielded unpromising results.
- Despite a favorable theoretical profile, memantine's efficacy in treating neuropathic pain was not demonstrated in clinical studies.
Conclusions:
- Memantine is not currently recommended for routine use in managing neuropathic pain.
- Further research may be needed to clarify the role, if any, of NMDA receptor inhibitors in neuropathic pain management.
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