Memantine and amantadine for autistic children: what the evidence shows
Published July 17, 2026
A parent-friendly summary of a 2026 systematic review: evidence for memantine and amantadine in autistic children remains inconclusive, and neither is approved specifically for autism.
Evidence status: inconclusive. These medicines have not been shown to treat the core features of autism.
Bottom line
A 2026 systematic review examined memantine and amantadine, two medicines that affect N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor signalling. Eight small studies involving participants younger than 18 met the review criteria. The authors found that the evidence for improving core autism features was inconclusive. Some studies suggested possible changes in selected cognitive, behavioural or disruptive-behaviour measures, but the results were inconsistent and limited by study design and sample size.
A separate 2024 systematic review and meta-analysis included ten randomized studies with 588 participants. It found that NMDA-receptor antagonists were not superior to placebo for core autism features, overall treatment response or irritability. In that analysis, more participants receiving an NMDA antagonist reported at least one adverse event.
What these medicines are
- Memantine is labelled in the United States for moderate-to-severe dementia of the Alzheimer’s type.
- Amantadine has labelled uses including Parkinsonism, drug-induced movement reactions and certain influenza A indications; autism is not a labelled indication.
- Using either medicine for an autistic child would therefore be an off-label clinical decision requiring an individualized discussion with a qualified prescriber.
What families should know
- This review does not establish memantine or amantadine as an autism treatment.
- Potential benefit, side effects, interactions and monitoring depend on the individual and the specific treatment goal.
- Do not start, stop or change a medicine based on an online article. Ask the prescribing clinician what outcome is being targeted, how it will be measured and when treatment will be reviewed.
Study limitations
The 2026 review synthesized only eight eligible studies, with varied designs, measures and treatment combinations. Some findings came from adjunctive treatment, including amantadine used alongside risperidone, so they cannot be generalized to every child or to use of the medicine by itself. The authors called for larger, multicentre, double-blind randomized trials.
Sources
- Gupta and colleagues, 2026 systematic review (PubMed)
- Dessus-Gilbert and colleagues, 2024 systematic review and meta-analysis (PubMed)
- Memantine prescribing information (DailyMed)
- Amantadine prescribing information (DailyMed)
Source checked 6 August 2026. Educational information only; this page is not medical advice or a treatment recommendation.
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