Dear Reader OR Caregiver,
If your loved one is only taking Aricept (also known as donepezil HCl) 10 mg for their moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease, ask their doctor about NAMZARIC (memantine and donepezil hydrochlorides). NAMZARIC may help improve your loved one’s Alzheimer's symptoms. |
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| What is NAMZARIC? |
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| NAMZARIC is the first and only treatment for moderate to severe AD that works in two different ways. NAMZARIC is a prescription medicine approved to treat moderate to severe Alzheimer’s disease in patients who are taking donepezil hydrochloride 10 mg. NAMZARIC should not be taken by anyone who: has an allergy to memantine HCl, donepezil HCl, medicines that contain piperidines, or any of the ingredients in NAMZARIC. |
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| See below for additional Important Risk Information. |
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| How can NAMZARIC help my loved one with moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease? |
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| With NAMZARIC you may see: |
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 | An improvement in cognition also known as mental function | |
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 | An improvement in overall function | |
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 | A slowdown in the worsening of symptoms for a while | |
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| Keep in mind, it takes time for any treatment to begin working. If your loved one is being treated for moderate to severe Alzheimer’s disease, symptoms may progress more slowly, remain the same for a period of time, or show some improvement for a period of time. |
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| There is no evidence that NAMZARIC prevents or slows the underlying disease process in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. |
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| The power of conversation |
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| | | | The more information you can gather before visits, the better you can help the doctor provide appropriate care for your loved one. One easy way to help you prepare for the next appointment is with our Appointment Checklist. Use this
tool to jot down your thoughts, key discussion points, and any questions you want to ask during your visit. | |  | |
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| Your loved one counts on you to be their voice, especially as their symptoms progress. That's why it is important to know about available treatment options. Ask their doctor about NAMZARIC. |
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| IMPORTANT RISK INFORMATION |
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| NAMZARIC should not be taken by anyone who: has an allergy to memantine HCl, donepezil HCl, medicines that contain piperidines, or any of the ingredients in NAMZARIC. |
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| Before taking NAMZARIC, tell the doctor about all of the patient’s medical conditions, including: |
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| • | heart problems including an irregular, slow, or fast heartbeat | | |
| • | asthma or lung problems | | |
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| • | bladder, kidney, or liver problems | | |
| • | any surgical, dental, or other medical procedures scheduled when anesthesia may be used | | |
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| Tell the doctor about all the medicines the patient takes, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. |
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| What are the possible side effects of NAMZARIC? |
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| NAMZARIC may cause serious side effects, including: |
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| • | muscle problems in patients given anesthesia | | |
| • | slow heartbeat and fainting. This happens more often in people with heart problems. Call the doctor right away if the patient faints while taking NAMZARIC. | | |
| • | more stomach acid. This raises the chance of ulcers and bleeding especially when taking NAMZARIC. The risk is higher for patients who have had ulcers, or take aspirin or other NSAIDs. | | |
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| • | difficulty passing urine | | |
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| • | worsening of lung problems in people with asthma or other lung disease | | |
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The most common side effects of memantine HCl include: headache, diarrhea, and dizziness.
The most common side effects of donepezil HCl include: diarrhea, not wanting to eat (anorexia), and bruising.
These are not all the possible side effects of NAMZARIC. |
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| Please see full Prescribing Information, including Patient Information. |
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| | Allergan® and its design are trademarks of Allergan, Inc.
NAMZARIC® and its design are trademarks of Merz Pharma GmbH & Co. KGaA.
All other trademarks and product names are the property of their respective owners.
© 2018 Allergan. All rights reserved.
NMZ114079 03/18 | |  | |
