A placebo-controlled study of memantine for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus-associated sensory neuropathy

Distal sensory polyneuropathy (DSP) is the most frequent neurological complication of HIV infection. Neuropathic symptoms vary from mild paresthesias to severe pain that respond only partially to symptomatic treatment. Forty-five subjects with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated symptomatic DSP (SDSP) were enrolled in a randomized, multicenter, 16-week placebo-controlled study of memantine, an N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) uncompetitive antagonist. Although memantine was well tolerated, no trend toward clinical benefit was observed. Results were similar to those of other pilot studies of memantine for neuropathic pain unrelated to HIV, suggesting that memantine is ineffective for the symptomatic treatment of HIV-associated SDSP.