AMANTADINE

(a MAN ta deen) Brand: Symmetrel

What is the most significant information I must know about amantadine?

• Do not use FluMist nasal influenza "live vaccine" while you are being treated with amantadine and for at least 48 hours after you stop taking amantadine. The nasal vaccine may not be as effective if you receive it while you are taking amantadine. Till taking amantadine, speak your doctor if you have received a nasal flu vaccine within the past 14 days.

• Till taking amantadine, speak your doctor if you have epilepsy or another seizure mess, congestive heart failure, kidney or liver malady, low blood pressure, eczema, glaucoma, or a history of mental diseases, suicide attempt, or drug/alcohol addiction.

• Amantadine can reason side effects that may impair your thinking, vision, or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert and able to see clearly.

• If you are taking amantadine to treat influenza A, take the medicine for the entire length of time predesigned by your doctor. Your symptoms may get better till the infection is completely treated.

• If you are taking amantadine to treat Parkinson symptoms, do not stop taking the medicine without first talking to your doctor. If you stop taking amantadine suddenly, your condition may become worse.

• You may have heighten sexual urges, unusual urges to gamble, or another intense urges while taking this medicine. Conversation with your doctor if you believe you have any intense or unusual urges while taking amantadine.

What is amantadine?

• Amantadine is an antiviral medicine. It blocks the actions of viruses in your body.

• Amantadine is used to treat and to prevent influenza A (a viral infection). There may be some flu seasons during which amantadine is not recommended because determined flu strains may be resistant to this drug.

• Amantadine is also used to treat Parkinson's malady and "Parkinson-like" symptoms such as stiffness and shaking that may be caused by the use of determined drugs.

• Amantadine may also be used for another purposes not listed in this medicine guide.

What must I discuss with my healthcare provider till taking amantadine?

• You must not use this medicine if you are allergic to amantadine, or if you have received a nasal flu vaccine (FluMist) within the past 14 days.

• If you have any of these another conditions, you may need a doze adjustment or particular trials to safely take amantadine:

· epilepsy or another seizure disorder;

· congestive heart failure;

· kidney disease;

· liver disease;

· low blood pressure or fainting;

· eczema;

· glaucoma; or

· a history of mental diseases, suicide attempt, or drug/alcohol addiction.

• You may have heighten sexual urges, unusual urges to gamble, or another intense urges while taking amantadine. It is not known whether the medication actually causes this effect. Conversation with your doctor if you believe you have any intense or unusual urges while taking amantadine.

• Some people taking medicines for Parkinson's malady have developed skin cancer (melanoma). However, people with Parkinson's malady may have a higher risk than most people for developing melanoma. Conversation to your doctor about your specific risk and what skin symptoms to watch for. You may need to have regular skin exams.

• FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether this medicine is deleterious to an unborn child. Till taking amantadine, speak your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

• Amantadine can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing child. Do not use this medicine without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How must I take amantadine?

• Take this medicine exactly as it was predesigned for you. Do not take the medicine in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

• Take this medication with a full glass of water.

• Measure the liquid form of amantadine with a particular dose-measuring spoon or cup, not a regular table spoon. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one.

• If you are taking amantadine to treat influenza A, start taking the medicine within 24 to 48 hours after flu symptoms begin. Hold taking the medicine for the entire length of time predesigned by your doctor. Your symptoms may get better till the infection is completely treated.

• Store amantadine at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

• Take the missed doze as soon as you remember. If it is nearly time for your following doze, skip the missed doze and take the medication at your following regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medication to create up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

• Search abnormal medical attention if you think you have used too many of this medication. An overdose of amantadine can be fatal.

• Overdose symptoms may include fever, anxiety, severe headache, confusion, hallucinations, agitation, aggression, personality changes, tremor, problems with balance or walking, quick or uneven heart course, urinating smaller than normal or not at all, trouble breathing, seizure (convulsion), or fainting.

What must I avoid while taking amantadine?

• Amantadine can reason side effects that may impair your vision, thinking, or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert and able to see clearly.

• Avoid getting up too quick from a sitting or lying position, or you may feel dizzy. Get up slowly and steady yourself to prevent a fall.

• Avoid drinking alcohol. It can magnify some of the side effects of amantadine.

• Avoid taking diet pills, caffeine pills, or another stimulants (such as ADHD medications) without your doctor's advice. Taking a stimulant together with amantadine can magnify your risk of unpleasant side effects.

What are the possible side effects of amantadine?

• Get abnormal medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your person, lips, tongue, or throat.

• Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

· feeling short of breath, even with mild exertion;

· swelling, rapid weight gain;

· feeling depressed, agitated, or aggressive;

· behavior changes, hallucinations, thoughts of hurting yourself;

· urinating smaller than normal or not at all;

· tall fever, stiff muscles, confusion, sweating, quick or uneven heartbeats, rapid breathing, feeling like you might pass out;

· restless muscle movements in your eyes, tongue, jaw, or neck; or

· tremor (uncontrolled shaking).

• Smaller serious side effects may include:

· dizziness, drowsiness, headache;

· sleep problems (insomnia), strange dreams;

· feeling nervous;

· nausea, diarrhea, constipation, loss of appetite;

· dry mouth, dry nose; or

· loss of balance or coordination.

• This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may message side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. You may message side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What another drugs will affect amantadine?

• Till taking amantadine, speak your doctor if you are using any of the next drugs:

· atropine (Atreza, Sal-Tropine, and others);

· dicyclomine (Bentyl);

· glycopyrrolate (Robinul);

· hyoscyamine (Anaspaz, Levbid, Levsin, Nulev, and others);

· mepenzolate (Cantil);

· methscopolamine (Pamine);

· propantheline (Pro-Banthine);

· scopolamine (Maldemar, Scopace, Transderm-Scop).

· quinine (Qualaquin);

· quinidine (Cardioquin, Quinaglute);

· a diuretic (water pill) such as triamterene (Dyrenium), hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ, Dyazide, HydroDiuril, Hyzaar, Lopressor, Vasoretic, Zestoretic), and others; or

· phenothiazines such as prochlorperazine (Compazine), thioridazine (Mellaril), and others.

• This list is not complete and there may be another drugs that can interact with amantadine. Speak your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal commodity, and drugs predesigned by another doctors. Do not start using a new medicine without telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist can provide more information about amantadine.

Remember, hold this and all another medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medicine only for the indication prescribed.

Disclaim: Each effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses external of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way must be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safety, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the help of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

(55)