Memantine for fibromyalgia and Alzheimer's disease: An observational case comparison

Recent research suggests that memantine may have a beneficial role in treating chronic pain in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). This study wished to assess whether patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and FMS prescribed memantine have improved pain control to those patients not receiving memantine. Nursing home patients with a diagnosis of AD and FMS were identified from one GP practice list in Arbroath, Scotland. Patients with another diagnosis that cause pain were excluded. Cognition was quantified and pain was assessed on a fortnightly basis for 4 months. Baseline cognitive and pain scores prior to treatment were also recorded. Ten patients with AD and FMS were identified. Four patients were excluded as they had other conditions causing pain. Three patients were prescribed memantine and three patients were prescribed donepezil. Baseline cognition and pain were similar between groups (prior to therapy), with lower pain scores and reduction for patients receiving memantine over the study period. This small research project, albeit with caveats, extends the findings to date that memantine may improve pain in patients with FMS, to those residing in nursing homes with diagnosis of AD.