Amantadine sulphate

[Yb252]

Amantadine sulphate - I was diagnosed with PD a few months ago (45 yo) and have been on Sifrol, (Mirapex), Azilect and Dekinet (Biperiden)Due to cognitive memory issues my doctor reduced the level of dekinet and it helped. It also slowly led to a regression of tremors and right hand weakness.

I am scared of Levadopa and my doctor suggested I try Amantadine Sulphate. Does anyone have experience of it? Things to know? Side effects? Many thanks!!!

[VL62]

I was diagnosed 4+ years ago, on Azilect and Sifrol. I tried Amantadine at some point but have not noticed any improvement, so just stopped it.

Have you done a genetic analysis? If you have a GBA mutation (which is quite possible given your age of diagnosis), then you should avoid any anticholinergic drugs, like Biperiden!

[Yb252 in reply to VL62]

Thanks for the reply....I have been tested genetically twice and no trace of a mutation.

[Cagey84 in reply to VL62]

Hi VL62 - I haven’t heard about the link between GBA mutations and anticholinergics. Do you have a reference or source?

[VL62 in reply to Cagey84]

No written reference, but I heard it very clearly attending a public lecture by the leading Israeli Parkinson's expert, about a year ago. The reason, as stated, is that this is very likely to cause heavy side effects.

[EnterTheDragon]

I had an adverse reaction from Amantadine. In less than two hours of taking the first pill, my heart started racing and pounding, while having difficulty trying to breathe. I collapsed onto the floor and called for help from my wife nearby.

Never had that kind of medical event before.

I had a severe allergic reaction to it and I haven’t tried it again.

[Zella23]

Husband been taking it with Madopar and Rasagaline, twice a day to help with dyskinesia. Hasn’t had any side effects, seems to help prevent dyskinesia which he started to get after 5 years of Modopar.

[glenandgerry]

My husband took it a few years ago to help with dyskinesia but stopped taking it as it didn't seem to do much. However he is no longer taking Sinemet as that also didn't seem to help much. He is now taking Madopar twice a day together with Amantadine which seems to be working for him. It's strange that he hasn't had an adverse reaction to Amantadine like some people as he doesn't usually tolerate drugs at all well and is quite sensitive to a lot of them but he's OK with Amantadine.

[Baileytwo]

Amantatine made my ankles and legs swell. Stopped taking

[Bijiez]

With amatadin you loose your memory and halusinate alots ?cut it bija

[Salsca1]

I’m fairly new to this site but was diagnosed two years ago at 44. I’m on 1 mg rasagaline and .5 mg of clonopin twice a day for anxiety. I’ve progressed ever so slightly since finding out I have pd. Lots of exercise and various supplements for good measure along with the previous two meds mentioned. Can anyone explain why the fear of levadopa? I’ve been considering trying it to see if it helps me feel more “normal “. Any advice?

[redhawk1 in reply to Salsca1]

Hello Salsca1 . . . at your young age I would suggest that you investigate and maybe take part in one of the clinical trials now in progress or that will be offered in the near future. The majority of studies are looking for those not yet on c/l. An improved therapy or

[redhawk1 in reply to redhawk1]

. . . or can I say “cure”!will likely be seen in your lifetime!

[NanCyclist]

Levadopa is the gold standard drug for PD. It addresses many of the symptoms and makes life a lot easier. However, most people have a range of tolerance. As your symptoms get worse, you can add L to a certain threshold. Then you will likely start having dyskinesias, the uncontrolled, unexpected motions that are so annoying. Amantadine helps with the dyskinesias. you can see why it is critical to have a Movement Disorder Specialist who can sort out what will most likely work best. Remember, all this is an ever-changing moving target. You're right on target with exercise. check the PedalingforParkinson’s.org webpage

[jeeves19 in reply to NanCyclist]

Long time no hear Nan.

[chartist]

A friend of mine recently started taking Amantadine and had many side effects from it. He was so bad, his daughter thought he had had a stroke and wanted to take him to the emergency room. He was hallucinating, losing his memory very quickly, had brain fog, was losing his balance and fell, he started having swallowing problems which he had never had before, he could not carry a coherent conversation with me any more, he almost got in an accident while driving because nothing made sense to him and thought he was going to have to be put in a convalescent facility. He thought his PD was advancing at an alarming rate and he was just flat out scared!

Even though he just started Amantadine, his doctor told him he will have to wean him off of it. After he was able to explain to me what happened to him, I went and looked up the side effects for Amantadine and I was blown away by the list of side effects :

drugs.com/sfx/amantadine-si...

I had never seen such a lengthy side effects list that I can remember, but I stopped counting once I passed 50 side effects.

I realize that there are a limited number of drugs for PD, so every one of them is important and some people do get good benefit, but this one seems like one that should be very low on the consideration list. If you do start taking Amantadine, it might be worth printing or bookmarking this list for future reference because a lot of the side effects could easily be PD related, but with Amantadine the speed of onset is what can separate a side effect from being an effect of PD itself.

My friend is already starting to improve as the doctor weans him off of it and I was able to have a good conversation with him yesterday.

Art