My OH was prescribed memantine when he was diagnosed 4 years ago.
It's difficult to know how effective it's been. His decline has been quite quick and he's now late mid stage. But.. he was always a placid easy going man and he still is so it may have helped to keep his mood stable.
He didn't have any noticeable bad side effects but he does have long standing heart disease and he's now experiencing a low, sometimes dangerously low, heart rate and the cardiologist is asking memory clinic to review the memantine.
I'd like to keep him on it if possible as I don't want withdrawal to affect his mood. It will depend on the next round of echocardiogram and ECG results as to what is advised.