Amantadine

Amantadine: Uses, Dosage and Side Effects

Overview

Adjunctive analgesic in animals, it provides analgesia through NMDA antagonist action which may potentiate the effects of other analgesics.

Uses of Amantadine

• Adjunctive analgesics for animals that don’t respond to opioids or that need long-term pain management in combination with NSAIDs (for conditions like osteoarthritis or cancer pain).
• Might be a helpful adjunct in the clinical management of canine osteoarthritic pain.

Dose of Amantadine in Dogs and Cats

Dogs:

3–5 mg/kg p.o. q24h.

Cats:

1–4 mg/kg p.o. q24h; start at the lowest dose and increase slowly.

Side Effects of Amantadine in Dogs and Cats

Some dogs given amantadine occasionally develop agitation, flatulence, loose stools, or diarrhea, particularly early in treatment

Contraindications of Amantadine in Dogs and Cats

• Amantadine should be used carefully in animals with these Health conditions:
  • Hepatic disease and Renal disease
  • Congestive heart failure
  • Active psychoses
  • Eczematoid dermatitis
  • Seizure disorders
  • Untreated angle-closure glaucoma

Some Notes:

• It is recommended to avoid or administer Amantadine carefully with these drugs due to the occurrence of interactions between each other:
  • Aluminum hydroxide:  decreases absorption of allopurinol.
  • Cyclophosphamide: increase the risk for bone marrow suppression.
  • Cyclosporines: increase in cyclosporine concentration may occur.
  • Uricosuric agents ( probenecid, sulfinpyrazone):  increase the renal excretion of oxypurinol and thereby reduce xanthine oxidase inhibition.
  • Urinary acidifiers (Eg, ammonium chloride, methionine):  reduce the solubility of uric acid in the urine and induce urolithiasis.