Amantadine is used to treat Parkinson's disease (a disorder that affects the movement of a person, causing symptoms such as tremors, muscle stiffness, slowed movement, and impaired balance or walking).
This medicine is also used to treat or prevent a flu, an infection caused by a virus called influenza virus.
Amantadine may also be used to treat herpes zoster (a type of sexually transmitted disease).
This medicine may be used to treat other conditions as decided by your doctor.
Take Amantadine exactly as directed by your doctor or according to the instructions on the label. Do not take more or less than instructed by your doctor.
You may take this medicine with or without food. Try to take it at the same time each day.
Amantadine is available as a conventional tablet, conventional capsule, oral solution, oral syrup, and extended-release tablet or capsule. Do not change from one drug form to another without consulting your doctor first.
If you are taking the extended-release type of tablet or capsule (usually labelled as "ER"), swallow it whole. Do not divide, chew or crush the tablet or capsule.
If you are taking the oral solution or syrup, shake the bottle well before you take the medicine to ensure that the liquid is evenly mixed. Use the measuring spoon or cup provided to measure your dose.
The dose of this medicine will be decided by your doctor. Your doctor will advise you on the treatment timeframe depending on the type of your condition or response to the medication.
Do not stop taking Amantadine suddenly as it may worsen your condition. Your doctor will gradually reduce the dose before stopping it completely. Follow your doctor's instructions carefully.
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and return to your normal dosing schedule.
DO NOT double a dose under any circumstances.
If you often forget to take your medicine, let your doctor and pharmacist know.
Alert your doctor if you have the following conditions:
- fits or seizures
- severe heart failure (weakness and inability of the heart to pump blood)
- abnormally thick heart muscle
- slow heartbeat
- heart rhythm disorder
- history of stomach ulcer
- history of serious irregular or abnormal heartbeat
- severe kidney disease
as Amantadine may not be suitable for you.
Do not take this medicine if you are pregnant or planning to have a baby soon. If you become pregnant while being treated with Amantadine, alert your doctor immediately. This medicine may cause harm to your unborn child. You must use proven birth control methods while taking Amantadine.
Inform your doctor if you have the following conditions:
- other heart diseases e.g. heart failure
- orthostatic hypotension (fall in blood pressure when standing up from a sitting or lying down position)
- untreated glaucoma (increased pressure in the eye)
- mental illness e.g. mood disorder
- history of fits or seizures
- recurrent eczema (a skin condition characterised by patches of red and itchy skin)
- liver disease
- mild to moderate kidney disease
Let your doctor know if you are breastfeeding.
Be sure to check with your doctor or pharmacist before giving Amantadine to a child or the elderly. Children or elderly people may be more sensitive to the side effects.
If you are going to have certain laboratory tests (e.g. drug test), inform your doctor that you are taking Amantadine.
Why is it important to keep my appointments with the doctor?
Keep your appointments with your doctor. Your doctor needs to monitor your condition and check your response to the medication regularly.
- If being taken as an antiviral, culture and susceptibility tests must be done before treatment to know if this medicine is suited for you to use to take.
- Routine tests (e.g. kidney function, ECG [test used to record the electrical activity of the heart]) may be done while you are being treated with this medicine. Your doctor will advise you about how often you need to have these tests.
- Your blood pressure may fall to unsafe levels without you noticing it. Monitor your blood pressure regularly during treatment.
- Regular monitoring for signs of changes in mental status (e.g. depression, seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not existent, thoughts of self-harm, unusual changes in mood or behaviour) may also be needed.
Amantadine may cause dizziness, sleepiness or blurred vision. If affected, do not drive or take part in any activity in which you need to be alert or need to see clearly.
Notify your doctor if you experience worsening symptoms that resemble Parkinson's disease (e.g. tremors, slowed movements, stiffness of the arms and legs, imbalance while walking) and other uncontrollable movements such as twitching and jerking.
This medicine may cause your blood pressure to fall suddenly when you get up from a sitting or lying down position and you may feel giddy. To minimise this problem, stand up slowly.
Other side effects include any of the following: Headache, nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhoea, loss of appetite, dry mouth, tiredness, muscle pain or spasms, joint swelling, and sleeping difficulty or disturbances.
Some side effects may need immediate medical help. Alert your doctor quickly if you experience any of the following:
- rashes, breathlessness, swelling of the face, eyes, or mouth
- confusion, nightmares, hallucinations (seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not existent)
- unusual changes in mood or behaviour (being too depressed, agitated, or having compulsive and impulsive behaviour)
- having thoughts of self-harm
- muscle stiffness accompanied by fever, alteration of attention, consciousness or cognition,
- fits or seizures
Inform your doctor if any of these side effects do not go away or are severe, or if you experience other side effects.
Inform your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking any of these medicines:
- other medicines used to treat Parkinson's disease e.g. levodopa, biperiden, trihexyphenidyl, procyclidine
- medicine for mood disorders e.g. chlorpromazine, haloperidol
- orphenadrine (muscle relaxant)
- scopolamine (medicine used for motion sickness)
- quinidine (medicine for irregular heartbeat)
- quinine (medicine used to treat malaria, a disease characterised by chills, fever and sweating that is transmitted to people through the bite of an infected mosquito)
This list does not include all medicines that may interact with Amantadine.
Always notify your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including herbal tonics such as traditional Chinese medicines, supplements, and medicines that you buy without a prescription.
Avoid alcohol. Alcohol intake may worsen the dizziness and drowsiness caused by Amantadine.
Store in a cool, dry place away from the reach of children.
Medicines must not be used past the expiry date.
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