Evaluating Success & Duration of Therapy

How long does it take for Axura® to show an effect?

This differs from patient to patient. In some patients, a recognizable improvement may be observed after four weeks. In other patients, success will only be seen after several months. Therefore continued treatment for six months is advised before assessing the effect.

Should I continue treatment if there is no noticeable effect?

Since Alzheimer's dementia is a steadily progressive disease, even a stable condition or a slowed decline of the patient should be viewed as a success. Treatment success should always be assessed by valid testing. Should the tests show a continuous deterioration in spite of memantine treatment, the therapy can be discontinued.

Are there any tests that can help me to monitor the therapeutic success?

The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) is recommended for monitoring.

Some medications lose their effect after they have been used for a while. How long will Axura® work?

The extension phase of the study in moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease gives evidence of a sustained effect of memantine over an entire treatment period of at least 12 months(8).

When should I discontinue the treatment?

Treatment should be discontinued in the case of hypersensitivity to the active substance, or to any of the excipients, or if severe side effects occur.

What kind of benefit can I actually expect from Axura® in patients with severe Alzheimer's dementia? Doesn't it simply prolong their suffering?

Axura® does not prolong the life of the patients. Axura® improves the daily competence of the patients. The absolute need for care is postponed. In the late stages of dementia, care is made easier for relatives and caregivers. This may improve quality of life for both the patient and the caregiver.

Are there any withdrawal symptoms when discontinuing the medication?

Withdrawal symptoms have not been observed in clinical trials.