Amantadine [Adamantanamine]

This chapter discusses amantadine (Adamantanamine), a neuropsychotropic drug. It presents the approved indications of the drug for neuropsychological disorders, usual dosage and administration, available dosage forms, storage, and compatibility, and the mechanism of action. Information on relative contraindications, clinically significant drug interactions, adverse drug reactions, and overdosage is also provided. Sold under the trade names Endantadine^® and Symmetrel^®, amantadine is predcribed for idiopathic and drug-induced Parkinson's disease; 200 mg daily orally, in two divided doses, is prescribed for normal adults. Adjunctive psychotherapy or other pharmacotherapy may be indicated following individual evaluation for mood or other mental disorders. Available data suggest that amantadine may elicit its actions by one or more of the following mechanisms: release of catecholamines, including dopamine, from peripheral nerve storage sites; blocking the re-uptake of dopamine into presynaptic neurons; and direct stimulation of postsynaptic receptors. Amantadine pharmacotherapy has been commonly associated with anxiety, dizziness, impaired concentration, insomnia, lightheadedness, and nausea.