The nurse is caring for a patient with Alzheimer disease. The patient has been taking donezepil (Aricept), and reports that has been helping but that it does not seem to be working as well as it used to. The health care provider writes an order for memantine (Namenda). Which statement will the nurse include in the education for the patient and caregiver?

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2. Memantine is an N-methyl d-aspartate glutamate receptor antagonist, which means it works by inhibiting or reducing activation of glutamine transmission. Donezpril reduces the breakdown of acetylcholine. Reducing activation of glutamine transmission and reducing the breakdown of acetylcholine may slow the progress of dementia associated with Alzheimer disease.

The Nurse Is Caring for a Patient with Alzheimer Disease