Comment · Sat, August 16, 2014 · Ceretropic
The Word on Memantine?
Original post in this thread
BitcoinOperatedGirl · 8 points
I'm just wondering if there's any agreement on the use of memantine as a nootropic. I got interested in it because some people claimed it could partially reverse/reduce tolerance to dopaminergic stimulants (adderall, modafinil, coffee), others said it could help with anhedonia (which I sometimes suffer from) and help improve memory, reduce anxiety. Our beloved [/u/MisterYouAreSoDumb](reddit.com/u/misteryouaresodumb) advocated its use, which made me really want to look into it.
Unfortunately, I've since found reports of people complaining that after using memantine for a few months, they came off of it because it actually seems to make their memory worse, that it reduces your ability to learn (contradicting the aforementioned claims). Some people also complain of chronic tiredness. The memory/learning issue is really what scares me most, however. My work involves much programming/engineering work, and the ability to learn things quickly is crucial. If I can't learn, I can't do the work I love.
Personally, I started taking 3mg/day about a week ago. Seems like my anxiety is a bit reduced. It initially seemed like I had a slight boost in motivation, I became very obsessed with my wo…
What they were answering
ohsnapitsnathan · 1 points
I would not be at all surprised if memantine causes learning and memory problems in healthy people--one of its main mechanisms of action is to inhibit signalling through NMDA receptors, which seems to be critical for brain plasticity.
I personally think memantine is overhyped--it seems to have modest cognitive preserving effects in Alzheimer's disease because it reduces the neuron loss due to excitotoxicity that is a feature of that disease. Introducing an NMDA antagonist into a person who doesn't have an excitotoxic disease is likely to do either nothing or impair cognition.
u/MisterYouAreSoDumb · Ceretropic
People are taking it to up-regulate their receptors, though. It will most certainly hurt cognition acutely. However, chronic administration should lead to a normalization effect in the brain.