Patient/caregiver was educated on contraindications for using Namenda as follows:
- Namenda carries the risk of causing rapid heart rate and elevated blood pressure. Individuals can present with symptoms of poorly controlled blood pressure, such as, episodes of headache, nose bleeds, blurred vision, complaint of chest pain, pounding sensation in the neck and ears, and confusion. Individuals with history of poorly controlled blood pressure can also be at risk for stroke, secondary to elevated blood pressure with namenda. Namenda should be used with extreme caution in individuals with history of hypertension, especially with poor control, to prevent further worsening of the numbers and development of episodes of stroke.
- Namenda use can result in lowering of seizure threshold and precipitation of seizures, especially in individuals with history of the same. Namenda should be used with extreme caution in individuals with history of seizures, to prevent any relapse of seizure episodes.
