Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-rdxmf Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-23T20:56:34.388Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Amantadine Therapy for Fatigue in Multiple Sclerosis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 September 2015

T.J. Murray*
Affiliation:
Division of Neurology. Dalhousie University
*
Clinical Research Centre. 5849 University Ave.. Halifax. Nova Scotia. Canada B3H 4H7
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract:

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

We carried out a double blind control study of fatigue in 32 patients with multiple sclerosis, comparing amantadine hydrochloride 100 mg twice a day and placebo. On amantadine 31% had marked improvement; 15.6% moderate improvement; 15.6% mild improvement; and 36.5%unchanged. On placebo, none noted marked improvement; one claimed moderate improvement on either amantadine or placebo. 18.7% reported mild improvement on placebo; and most of them had similar or more response to amantadine. No patient selected placebo over amantadine at the end of the trial. Overall improvement was seen in 62.5% of patients on amantadine and 21.8% on placebo. Additional experience up to two years suggests continued benefit but common and important side-effects.

Type
Original Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Neurological Sciences Federation 1985

References

REFERENCES

1.MacAlpine, D, Lumsden, CE, Acheson, ED.Multiple Sclerosis: A reappraisal. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingston 1972; 115116.Google Scholar
2.Herndon, RM, Rudick R. Fatigue in M.S. M.S. Quarterly. Summer 1981; 414.Google Scholar
3.Sandy, KR.Anergia and depression as early features of Multiple Sclerosis. S Afr Med J 1983; 732.Google Scholar
4.Schwab, RS, England, AC, Poskanzer, DC, Young, RR.Amantadine in the treatment of Parkinson’s Disease. JAMA 1969; 208:1168.Google ScholarPubMed
5.Gray, MW, Herzberg, L, Lenman, JAR, et al. Anantadine in chorea. Lancet 1975; 2:132133.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
6.Schunk, W.Manganese poisoning. Dsch Gesundh Wes 1976; 31:1847.Google Scholar
7.Haslam, RHA, McQuillen, MP, Clark, DB.Amantadine Therapy in subacute sclerosing panencephalitis. Neurology 1969; 19:1080.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
8.Pacifici, GM, Nardini, M, Ferrari, P, et al. Effect of Amantadine on drug-induced Parkinsonism: relationship between plasma levels and effect. Br J Clin Pharmac 1976: 3:883.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
9.Rizzo, M, Biandrate, P, Tognoni, G, et al. Amantadine in depression: relationship between behavioral effects and plasma levels. Europ J Clin Pharmacol 1973; 5:226228.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
10.Chierichetti, SM, Ferrari, P, Sala, P, et al. Effects of Amantadine on mental status of elderly patients. Curr Ther Rs 1977; 22:158165.Google Scholar
11.White, G.Improving babies with down’s syndrome. Med J Australia 1974; 2:184.Google ScholarPubMed
12.Critchley, E.Clinical Manifestations of Essential Tremor. J Neuro Neurosurg Psychiat 1972; 35:365372.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
13.MacDonald, JR.Empirical use of amantadine in Multiple Sclerosis. Wink, CAS (ed) Symmetrel in Virology. Geigy Pharm Macdesfield p 4850.Google Scholar
14.Schapira, M.Amantadine in the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis. J Roy Coll Gen Prac 1974; 2:411413.Google Scholar
15.Ellison, GW, Mickey, MR, Myers, LW, et al. A Pilot study of Amantadine treatment of Multiple Sclerosis. In: Progress in Multiple Sclerosis Research. Bauer, HF, Doser, S, Ritter, G, (eds) Berlin: Springer Verlag 1980; 407.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
16.Freal, JE, Kraft, GH, Coryell, JK.Symptomatic Fatigue in Multiple Sclerosis. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 1984; 65:135138.Google ScholarPubMed