Amantadine
Information about Amantadine
Amantadine uses
Amantadine is used in the treatment of Parkinson's disease.
How amantadine works
Amantadine is a dopamine agonist that treats Parkinson's disease. It works by increasing the amount of dopamine, a chemical messenger in the brain which regulates body movements. It also has an antiviral property.
Common side effects of amantadine
Nausea, Dryness in mouth, Constipation, Dizziness, Blurred vision, Insomnia (difficulty in sleeping), Hallucination, Anxiety, Fainting, Depression, Decreased appetite, Hypotension (low blood pressure), Edema (swelling), Delusion, Abnormality of voluntary movements, Bruise, Livedo reticularis, Sleepiness, Urinary tract infection, Eczematoid dermatitis, Oculogyric episodes, Suicidal attempt
Available Medicine for Amantadine
Expert advice for Amantadine
- It can be taken with or without food.
- It may cause blurring of vision or affect mental ability. Do not drive or do anything requiring concentration until you know how it affects you.
- To lower the chance of feeling dizzy or passing out, rise slowly if you have been sitting or lying down.
- Do not take extra medicine to make up for the missed dose.
- It may put you at a higher risk of having seizures. Talk to your doctor if you have a history of seizures or are taking medication for it.
- Inform your doctor if you notice an urge to gamble, increased sexual urges, binge eating, or uncontrolled spending.
- Do not stop taking the medication suddenly without talking to your doctor.
Frequently asked questions for Amantadine
Amantadine
Q. Does Amantadine affect fertility?
No, Amantadine is not known to affect fertility in humans.
Q. Can Amantadine get you high?
The use of Amantadine may cause impulse control disorders in which you may have strong urges to gamble, increased sexual urges, intense urges to spend money, binge eating, and other intense urges. Additionally, there is the inability to control these urges. If such symptoms are experienced then dose reduction or tapered discontinuation should be considered.
Q. Is Amantadine a dopamine agonist?
Yes, Amantadine is a dopamine agonist. Dopamine is needed to control movements in the brain. Amantadine works by increasing the amount of dopamine, thereby helping in controlling the movements in Parkinson’s disease.