What symptoms does amantadine treat?

Amantadine is used to treat symptoms of involuntary body movements, shaking or dyskinesia (uncontrollable, erratic, writhing movements of the face, arms, legs and/or trunk).

What kind of body movements is amantadine used for?

• involuntary movements, shaking or tremors of Parkinson’s disease
• dyskinesia that Parkinson’s disease patients may have while they are on levodopa based medicines
• extrapyramidal symptoms (EPSE) of muscle spasm, tremor and irregular, jerky movements due to side effects of some medications that affect dopamine. (Labeled indication of Osmolex ER brand)
• uncoordinated, jerky body movements called chorea which are symptoms of Huntington disease (off-label use of amantadine)

Amantadine was used to prevent and treat influenza A which has symptoms of coughing, runny nose, sneezing, sore throat and fever. Influenza A is considered to be resistant to amantadine so no longer recommended as an influenza A.

How does amantadine work?

The way amantadine reduces dyskinesia Is not known.

Amantadine is known to have direct and indirect effects on dopamine neurons and also inhibits NMDA receptors (N-Mentyl-Daspartate receptor).

Amantadine brand names available in the US are Gocovri and Osmolex. They do not have the same labeled indications and are not interchangeable.

Bottom Line:

• Amantadine treats symptoms of involuntary body movements, shaking or dyskinesia (uncontrollable, erratic, writhing movements of the face, arms, legs and/or trunk).
• These symptoms can be due to Parkinson’s disease (involuntary tremors and dyskinesia while on levodopa based medicines), extrapyramidal side effects from medicines affecting dopamine, and chorea symptoms of Huntington disease.
• The way amantadine works to help reduce the symptoms of involuntary body movements is currently unknown.