Amantadine

Amantadine has an antiviral and antiparkinsonian effect. It prevents the entry of the influenza A virus to the cells and reduces motor disabilities in the Parkinson’s disease.

What is this drug used for?

– For the treatment of Parkinson’s disease and Parkinson’s syndrome.
– For the treatment of consequences of herpetic infection (postherpetic neuralgia).
– For the treatment and prevention of influenza A.

The use of the drug

Consult your doctor before starting to use the drug. Directions for use and dosage depend on the type and severity of illness.

For the treatment of Parkinson’s disease, Amantadine is taken orally after the meal. The initial dose is 100 mg a day with an interval of 6 hours (the last dose must be taken before dinner) for 3 days, from the 4th to the 7th day – 200 mg a day, for 2 weeks – 300 mg a day, then, depending on the patient’s condition, 300-400 mg a day. For prevention and treatment of influenza you should take 200 mg a day (orally) with an interval of 6 hours. Maximal daily dose is 600 mg. The drug is administered intravenously 200 mg 1-3 times a day.

The duration of use

The course of prevention and treatment of influenza is 10 days, for the treatment of intercostal neuralgia – 10-14 days. The drug must be taken for a long time for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease.

Contraindications

Individual intolerance; chronic kidney and liver failure; heart failure of the II-III degree; thyrotoxicosis; prostatic hyperplasia; epilepsy; closed-angle glaucoma; arterial hypotension; psychosis; state of agitation; confusion; I trimester of pregnancy, breastfeeding.

Side effects

Often: dry mouth, sickness, decrease in appetite, heartburn.

Rare: motor or psychomotor agitation, seizures, headache, dizziness, irritation, insomnia, hand tremor, mental disorders, visual hallucinations, development or aggravation of heart failure, increased heartbeat, arrhythmia, and acute urinary retention in the patients with prostatic hyperplasia, blue tone of skin of extremities, reducing of the visual acuity.

You need to tell the doctor about the following cases:
If you suffer from an oncological disease, immunodeficiency disease, kidney disease (pyelonephritis, glomerulonephritis).
If you’ve ever had an allergic reaction to any drug or food product.
If you take any other drug, including over-the-counter medicines, herbs and biologically active additives.

The drug cant’t be taken in the I trimester of pregnancy. In the II-III trimester the doctor can prescribe the drug, if the benefit for the mother supersedes a potential risk for the fetus.