Can Memantine Be Taken With Stimulants?
Yes, memantine can be safely taken with stimulants—there are no known contraindications or significant drug interactions between these medication classes. 1
Evidence for Safety
The available guideline evidence does not identify memantine as a contraindication when prescribing stimulants. The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry's comprehensive practice parameters for stimulant use list specific contraindications including MAO inhibitors, psychosis, glaucoma, and liver disorders, but memantine is notably absent from these warnings. 1
The only absolute contraindication for combining stimulants with other medications is concurrent MAO inhibitor use, which can cause severe hypertension and cerebrovascular accidents. 1
Specific Context: Your Medication Regimen
For your specific situation taking Qelbree (viloxazine) 100mg, sertraline 100mg, and guanfacine ER 3mg:
Viloxazine with stimulants is explicitly supported by recent evidence. A 2025 phase 4 trial demonstrated that viloxazine extended-release combined with psychostimulants showed acceptable safety and tolerability in children and adolescents with ADHD, with only 3.6% withdrawing due to adverse events. 2
Adding memantine to this regimen poses no documented interaction concerns. Memantine has shown beneficial effects on cognitive function and mood in moderate to severe dementia, with side effects limited to headaches and dizziness. 1
Sertraline and stimulants can be safely combined. Guidelines confirm no significant drug-drug interactions between SSRIs and stimulants, though caution is warranted with more potent CYP450 inhibitors like fluoxetine and paroxetine. 1, 3
Guanfacine is FDA-approved as adjunctive therapy with stimulants. This combination is specifically recommended in guidelines for ADHD management. 1, 3
Monitoring Recommendations
When combining these medications, monitor for:
Cardiovascular parameters: Blood pressure and heart rate should be checked at baseline and regularly, as both stimulants and guanfacine affect these parameters. 1
Cognitive effects: Memantine's side effects (headaches, dizziness) may overlap with stimulant side effects, requiring dose adjustments if symptoms become problematic. 1
Sleep and appetite: Common stimulant side effects that should be tracked throughout treatment. 1
Common Pitfall to Avoid
Do not assume memantine will treat ADHD symptoms. While memantine improves cognitive function in dementia, it is not indicated for ADHD treatment. If ADHD symptoms are the primary concern, stimulants remain first-line therapy with 70-80% response rates. 3