IMPLICATIONS: The administration of memantine to two patients with severe refractory phantom limb pain led to a significant reduction in pain. In patients with refractory phantom pain, memantine may be considered as an additional adjunctive medication.

Phantom limb pain (PLP) is very common after limb amputation and has a reported incidence of up to 87% of amputees. 1 This type of pain can be difficult to treat and usually responds poorly to conventional pain treatments. 2–4 We report two cases of profound pain relief in amputees after induction of oral memantine. In one of the cases, the patient was rapidly titrated off a high dose of IV hydromorphone after beginning memantine and required treatment of opioid withdrawal symptoms. Both patients had almost complete resolution of pain shortly after beginning memantine.