Synonyms
Amantadine
Definition
Amantadine is indicated in the treatment of idiopathic Parkinson’s disease, postencephalitic parkinsonism, symptomatic parkinsonism, and drug-induced extrapyramidal reactions. Of note, it is less effective than Levodopa in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. Amantadine is also used as an antiviral indicated for the prophylaxis and treatment of Influenza A.
Current Knowledge
Mechanism of Action
Amantadine is an anti-Parkinson and an antiviral medication. The mechanism of action in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease and drug-induced extrapyramidal reactions is not known. The drug may affect the dopamine neurons.
Contraindications
Deaths have been reported from overdose of Amantadine. Overdose may also cause arrhythmia, tachycardia, hypertension, and cardiac, respiratory, renal, or central nervous system toxicity.
While the mechanism of action is not clear, suicide attempts and ideation have been reported in individuals taking Amantadine as an antiviral....
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Arciniegas, D., Frey, K., Alan Anderson, C., Brousseau, K., & Harris, S. (2004). Amantadine for neurobehavioural deficits following delayed post-hypoxic encephalopathy. Brain Injury, 18(12), 1309–1318.
Escher, T., Call, S., Blaha, C., & Mittleman, G. (2006). Behavioral effects of aminoadamantane class NMDA receptor antagonists on schedule-induced alcohol and self-administration of water in mice. Psychopharmacology, 187(4), 424–434.
Hughes, S., Colantonio, A., Santaguida, P., & Paton, T. (2005). Amantadine to enhance readiness for rehabilitation following severe traumatic brain injury. Brain Injury, 19(14), 1197–1206.
Schneider, W., Drew-Cates, J., Wong, T., & Dombovy, M. (1999). Cognitive and behavioural efficacy of amantadine in acute traumatic brain injury: An initial double-blind placebo-controlled study. Brain Injury, 13(11), 863–872.
Williams, S. (2007). Amantadine treatment following traumatic brain injury in children. Brain Injury, 21(9), 885–889.
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Murphy, M.P. (2018). Symmetril (Amantadine). In: Kreutzer, J.S., DeLuca, J., Caplan, B. (eds) Encyclopedia of Clinical Neuropsychology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-57111-9_1709
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-57111-9_1709
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Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
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Online ISBN: 978-3-319-57111-9
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