Amantadine

[HeidiK]

I'm starting Amantadine tomorrow and just wondered if anyone has had any experience with it?

Did/does it help with fatigue and other symptoms?

Thanks in advance! 😊

[Doubled51]

I've been on amantadine for about r weeks now. It seems to be stammering to help some but hasn't worked any miracles yet. Lol. Dr said sometimes it takes a few weeks to tell so I'm still hoping for the best. Hope yours kicks in faster than mine. I'll let you know if my results change. Good luck and God bless.

[Doubled51 in reply to Doubled51]

I meant about 4 weeks. Lol.

[StacyHayward]

I've been taking it for years. It definitely helps but it's not a miracle worker. Provigil made me naseous.

[Miriade]

To me it was a little help for energy, but what I got interested is that Amantadine is also antiviral, but my doctor prefer prescribe to me Concerta ER for fatigue. It is off label for MS registered for MS not only for ADD. Then it was the option I have been taking for fatigue, not high dose.

[erash]

HeidiK

What MS related symptoms is the amantadine for?

[HeidiK in reply to erash]

@erash It's for the extreme fatigue I have but hoping it might help with the internal vibrations I have constantly even with Gabapentin.

[HeidiK]

Thank you for your comments and sharing your experiences with me 😊

[Morllyn]

I tried it years ago but it didn't help. Tried Ritalin and it worked but raised my blood pressure. Asked my doctor if there was anything else that I could try and he said Provigil but that it was a stimulant like Ritalin and might raise my blood pressure again. He was willing to let me try as long as I monitored my blood pressure. It worked great, my morning fatigue that I had been having for 10 to 15 years was gone and no blood pressure problems. I still have fatigue but not the every morning bouts that lasted until mid day.

[mcheri]

My husband has taken amantadine for at least 15 years and it helped a lot with fatigue. A lot. He never complained of fatigue. Work a try....in my opinion. Had no side effects on it. Good Luck

[CherieMSCN]

Amantadine was my first med for fatigue and I have to say it did nothing for me. Then I went on Cylert which helped some and ultimately what worked best was Dexadrine. But I found that it I took the med every day I did not sleep well at night and irritability was an issue. All of the anti-fatigue meds can become less effective over time so less is better so you have someplace to go with dose. Most of our docs fail to tell us that any anti-fatigue med can interfere with good sleep and some have the potential to raise Blood pressure so please keep an eye on that.

[CalfeeChick CommunityAmbassador]

I take Modafinil which is generic Provigil. I've been on it about a month worked up to two 100 mg tablets a day or two. One in the a.m. one by noon, after a month, I am doing well on it. Have increased focus, less fatigue and can be more active. Best to @ Heidik

[HeidiK]

Thank you 😊

[REDLIPS44]

I have been on it for about 5 months ins. would not cover proigil or any other. Has not helped me

[ynggal]

HeidiK, I've been taking Amantadine as needed for several months now. My original neurologist tried to get me to take a different drug for fatigue, which listed anxiety as a side effect. If there was one thing I didn't need in my life it was more anxiety so I never filled the prescription.

I switched to a neurologist about 18-24 months ago that specializes in the treatment of MS. He prescribed Amantadine and I'm so glad I listened to his advice. He said it wouldn't cause anxiety and I'm happy to say it hasn't. It didn't cause me to be jittery either. On the days I felt like I needed it I would take one capsule in the morning and maybe another at lunch time.

It's not like it gave me tons of energy. It just kept me from feeling extremely fatigued. And the cost with insurance is really cheap. I'm so glad my neurologist suggested it. Let me know how you make out with it.

[Sandydemop]

What is the brand name of Amantadine if you know?

[ynggal in reply to Sandydemop]

Symmetrel

[AngieRowe]

HeidiK I started but quit after 3 months as I noticed no difference. I may try again later.

[sprada]

Heidi ~ it helped reduce my fatigue, but I stopped taking it when we realized that my purple mottled legs were a side effect of the med. They say a rash is a side effect to watch for, but I think of rashes as on the surface of the skin. This was a discoloration that appeared to be beneath my very fair skin. My neurologist hadn't seen anything like it before and wasn't sure if it would go away. I'm happy that my legs returned to normal after a couple months of no taking it. I hope it works for you; I just wanted you to be aware of possible side effects.

[Hidden]

My doctor ordered it for me in the beginning (during my first attack 25 years ago). The next relapse (15 years later) I tried it and it didn't help. My doctor ordered Provigil then and I used it for several years with success.