Amantadine
About Amantadine
Amantadine is a prescription medicine used to treat the symptoms of Parkinson's disease, such as muscle stiffness, tremors, and shaky movements. It is also prescribed to control movement difficulties that occur as side effects of certain psychiatric medicines. By helping to balance natural chemicals in the brain, it allows for smoother and more controlled physical activities.
For the best results, you must take Amantadine consistently at the same times every day as directed by your doctor. It can be taken with or without food, though taking it with a meal or a glass of milk can help prevent a mild upset stomach. To support your treatment, incorporating daily stretching exercises and staying well-hydrated can significantly improve your mobility.
While taking Amantadine, you may experience mild side effects like dry mouth, sleep problems, or light dizziness. However, you must contact your doctor immediately if you notice serious symptoms such as confusion, hallucinations, or unusual swelling in your ankles and feet. Monitoring how your body responds to the medication is key to staying safe during your treatment.
Before starting Amantadine, tell your doctor if you have a history of kidney disease, heart failure, seizures, or mental health conditions. Do not take this medicine if you have severe kidney failure or certain untreated eye conditions like narrow-angle glaucoma. Your doctor will help determine if this medication is safe for your specific health profile.
This medicine can interact with alcohol, which can cause severe drowsiness, and certain cold medications that can worsen dry mouth or confusion. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or an older adult, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using Amantadine, as special dosage adjustments or monitoring may be required to protect your health.
Uses of Amantadine
Medicinal Benefits
Amantadine offers meaningful, real-world relief that helps you regain control over your body and daily routine. By targeting the root causes of stiffness and shaking, this medication makes physical actions much easier and more comfortable.
- Improved mobility: It reduces muscle stiffness and slow movements, allowing you to walk, rise from a chair, and change positions more easily.
- Better coordination: By calming tremors and involuntary muscle spasms, it helps you perform fine motor tasks like writing, buttoning clothes, or eating.
- Enhanced daily independence: With fewer movement restrictions, you can manage your daily chores and activities with greater confidence and less discomfort.
Directions for Use
Please read these instructions carefully before starting your medication, and always follow your doctor's exact guidance.
- Swallow the capsule or tablet whole with a full glass of water. Do not crush, chew, or break the medication unless specifically instructed by your doctor.
- You may take this medicine with or without food. If you experience an upset stomach, taking it with a meal or milk can help.
- Take your doses at the same time every day to maintain a steady level of the medicine in your body. If you take this medicine twice a day, try to take your second dose in the afternoon.
- Avoid taking it close to bedtime, as it can cause sleep problems.
Your doctor will determine the right way for you to take this medicine based on your medical condition and response to treatment. Do not change your dose or stop taking it without consulting them first.
Storage
Side Effects of Amantadine
Common Side Effects (Usually mild):
- Dizziness or lightheadedness, especially when standing up quickly
- Dry mouth, nose, or throat
- Difficulty falling or staying asleep (insomnia)
- Nausea, loss of appetite, or upset stomach
- Constipation
Serious Side Effects (Call a doctor right away):
- Mental changes, including confusion, hallucinations, or depression
- A purple, net-like or lace-like pattern on your skin, typically on the legs (livedo reticularis)
- Swelling in your ankles, feet, or lower legs, accompanied by unexplained weight gain
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- Thoughts of harming yourself or unusual, uncontrollable urges (such as gambling or spending)
- Signs of a severe allergic reaction, including hives, swelling of your face, lips, or tongue, and difficulty swallowing
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Drug Warnings
- Do not stop taking this medicine suddenly: Stopping abruptly can trigger a rare but life-threatening reaction featuring high fever, severe muscle stiffness, and confusion. Always talk to your doctor to safely plan a way of gradually decreasing your dose.
- Avoid driving initially: This medicine can cause blurred vision, drowsiness, or impaired reaction times. Avoid driving, operating machinery, or performing dangerous tasks until you know how this medicine affects you.
- Watch for behaviour changes: Some people taking this medication experience intense urges to gamble, spend money, or engage in other compulsive behaviours. Report any unusual mood or behaviour changes to your healthcare provider immediately.
- Extra caution for older adults: Elderly individuals are more sensitive to the mental side effects of this medicine, such as confusion or hallucinations. Extra care should be taken to prevent falls.
- Inspect liquid solutions: If you are taking the liquid form of this medicine, always inspect it before use. It should be clear and free of particles. Do not use it if it is cloudy or discoloured.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interactions:
Inform your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines, as they may interact.
- Anticholinergic drugs: Taking these medicines (used for allergies, bladder control, or spasms) with Amantadine can increase the risk of dry mouth, blurred vision, constipation, and confusion.
- Certain water pills (diuretics): Medications like hydrochlorothiazide combined with triamterene can slow down the removal of Amantadine from your body, which may increase your risk of side effects.
- Live flu vaccines: This medicine may interfere with the effectiveness of live, nasal-spray influenza vaccines. It is generally recommended to avoid live vaccines while taking this medicine.
- Central nervous system stimulants: Combining these with Amantadine can cause increased restlessness, anxiety, or sleep disturbances.
Drug-Food Interactions:
- Alcohol: Avoid drinking alcohol while taking this medicine. Alcohol can worsen dizziness, lightheadedness, and mental confusion, making activities like walking or driving highly dangerous.
Drug-Disease Interactions:
Inform your doctor if you have a history of the following conditions before taking Amantadine, as it may worsen your condition or cause complications.
- Kidney disease: Your kidneys clear this medicine from your body. If your kidneys are not working properly, the drug can build up to dangerous levels, requiring a lower dose.
- Heart failure or high blood pressure: This medicine can cause fluid buildup and swelling, which may worsen symptoms of heart failure.
- Mental health conditions: If you have a history of depression, hallucinations, or psychosis, this medicine may worsen your mental health symptoms.
- Seizures: This medication may increase your risk of experiencing a seizure, especially if you have a history of epilepsy.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
unsafeIntake of alcohol with Amantadine may damage your liver. Therefore, you are recommended to avoid consumption of alcohol with Amantadine.
Pregnancy
consult your doctorAmantadine is a pregnancy Category C medicine. It is not known whether Amantadine will affect pregnant women or fetus. Therefore, Amantadine is given to pregnant women only if doctor thinks benefits are greater than risks.
Breast Feeding
unsafeAmantadine is excreted in human milk. But the amount of Amantadine absorbed by the nursing infant is unknown. So, it should not be taken while breastfeeding.
Driving
unsafeAmantadine can affect alertness and coordination. So, operating machinery which requires concentration should be avoided.
Liver
unsafeAmantadine is unsafe, especially if you have a history of liver diseases/conditions. Your doctor may have to adjust the dose if there are symptoms of nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, dark-colored urine, or yellowing of skin/eye.
Kidney
cautionAmantadine to be taken with caution, especially if you have a history of kidney disease. The dose may have to be adjusted by your doctor.
Children
safe if prescribedAmantadine can be given to children but under medical supervision. Amantadine is prescribed to the children to treat complicated urinary tract infections, anthrax infection, or plague infection.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Stand up slowly: To prevent dizziness or fainting caused by a sudden drop in blood pressure, take your time when getting out of bed or rising from a chair.
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of water throughout the day to help relieve dry mouth and manage constipation, unless your doctor has advised you to limit fluids due to a heart or kidney condition.
- Incorporate physical therapy: Engage in regular, gentle exercises like walking, stretching, or yoga to help maintain joint flexibility and muscle strength.
- Limit sodium: Since this medicine can cause fluid retention and ankle swelling, reducing your dietary salt intake may help manage these symptoms. Talk to your doctor before making major dietary changes.
Special Advise
Avoid alcoholic beverages with Amantadine as it can make you dehydrated and may affect your sleep.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Parkinson’s Disease: It is a nervous system disorder that affects movement and coordination. The symptoms start slowly, sometimes with a simple tremor, but eventually lead to a slowing of movements and an inability to coordinate movements. As the disease progresses, symptoms may worsen.
FAQs
Amantadine is used to treat Parkinson's disease symptoms. It plays a vital role in treating symptoms such as difficulty moving, muscle stiffness, and tremors.
Amantadine works by increasing dopamine (a chemical) level in the brain, responsible for improving body movement coordination. Thus, it effectively helps in performing daily functions in a better way and improving quality of life.
No, Amantadine should be taken in the dose and duration as advised by the doctor. If you take it in more than the recommended dose, it might cause unpleasant side effects. If you think your symptoms are not improving, please consult your doctor.
If you miss a dose of Amantadine, take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it's almost time for the next dose, do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.
No, Amantadine should not be taken if you have epilepsy as it might increase your chances of seizures. Please consults your doctor before starting Amantadine.
You should inform your doctor, and he might stop the use of Amantadine before the surgery.
Amantadine may cause constipation as a common side effect. Usually, it is temporary, does not require medical attention, and gradually resolves over time. However, if this persistent, reach out to your doctor.
Yes, in some cases, Amantadine has been used for neuropathic pain.
Amantadine contains Amantadine as an active ingredient.
Amantadine may cause some people to become dizzy, drowsy, or lightheaded, leading to tiredness or fatigue.
If you suddenly stop taking Amantadine, you may experience confusion, fever, mental state changes, or severe muscle stiffness. Depending on your disease condition, your doctor will decrease your dose gradually, if necessary.
Amantadine is not a dopamine agonist. It may inhibit the reuptake of dopamine and increase the synthesis and release of dopamine.
Individual needs may vary from person to person, so it should be used as directed by the physician.
Yes, Amantadine can be taken with or without food.
In rare cases, Amantadine may cause anxiety and feeling overexcited. If you experience any of these symptoms or if they persist, please consult the doctor.
Overdose symptoms may include confusion, agitation, behaviour changes, hallucinations, severe headache or pounding in your ears, muscle stiffness, problems with balance or walking, trouble breathing, Tachycardia (fast heartbeats) and seizures.
Limited research is available. Consult your doctor if you have any questions or concerns regarding this.
With continued Amantadine use, decreased weight and body mass index may occur. Seek medical attention if you observe any significant or sudden changes.
Amantadine may cause side effects like dry mouth, constipation, balance disorder (loss of balance), blurred vision, insomnia (difficulty sleeping), and peripheral oedema. Most of these side effects of Amantadine are temporary, do not require medical attention, and gradually resolve over time. However, if the side effects persist, contact your doctor.
No, you must not stop taking Amantadine suddenly. Doing so can cause a severe, life-threatening reaction with symptoms like a very high fever, muscle stiffness, and mental confusion. If you need to stop this medication, your doctor will guide you through gradually decreasing your dose. Talk to your doctor before making any changes.
Yes, dry mouth is a very common side effect of Amantadine. Sucking on ice chips or sugarless hard candy, chewing sugarless gum, and drinking plenty of water can help relieve this discomfort. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if dry mouth becomes severe or causes dental issues.
You should avoid alcohol while taking Amantadine. Alcohol can interact with this medicine to cause extreme drowsiness, severe dizziness, and confusion, increasing your risk of falls or accidents. Talk to your doctor if you have concerns about avoiding alcohol.
To manage this dizziness, try to rise very slowly from sitting or lying positions. Give your body a moment to adjust by dangling your legs over the edge of the bed or chair before standing up. Talk to your doctor if you continue to feel lightheaded or if you experience fainting.
Yes, Amantadine can cause difficulty falling or staying asleep (insomnia). To help prevent this, try to take your second daily dose in the afternoon rather than late in the evening or close to bedtime. Talk to your doctor about the best schedule for your doses.
The safety of Amantadine during pregnancy is not fully established, and it may cause harm to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor immediately if you are pregnant, suspect you might be pregnant, or are planning to become pregnant. Talk to your doctor to weigh the benefits and risks of this treatment.
Yes, Amantadine can cause a drop in blood pressure when you change positions quickly, such as standing up from a lying position. This is known as orthostatic hypotension and can cause dizziness. Talk to your doctor if you experience severe dizziness, blurred vision, or confusion.
Some people may begin to notice an improvement in their movement symptoms within a few days of starting Amantadine, while for others, it may take several weeks to feel the full benefits. Talk to your doctor if your symptoms do not improve or if they seem to get worse..
