This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

I got a script for amantadine for fatigue and started taking 100mg in the morning and at night. I haven't noticed any changes yet. Has anyone else taken this and does it work?

Marcia

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Marcia

Hi Marcia,
I've been taking exactly the same dose as you for about five years now. The effect was very gradual over about five or six months, but comparing before and after the difference has been profound – before, a 20 minute conversation would leave me exhausted for days, now, I talk all the time to carers, friends, and my computer! – although I do remember being told at the time that it only benefits about 30% of MS patients.
It's also worth remembering that it's a useful antiviral. In fact I think its benefits to MS were discovered as a by product of its use as a flu preventative, when MS patients began to report an increase in energy levels.
If I were you, I'd stick with it a bit longer!

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Dom

Thanks so much Dom! I will keep taking it a little longer but I sure wish the effects were immediate.

Marcia

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Marcia

This is the same thing my neuro told me when he gave me a script for the drug. It made me weaker than before I took it, so I am one of the 66% that do not do well on it.

gwa

so was i

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Had ms for over 19 years now.

try magnesium too, but the literature is controversial. possibly worth a try regardless

I wonder if the drug's antiviral action is responsible for you guys feeling worse? If you have a persistent, low grade viral infection that the body hasn't dealt with, to suddenly begin fighting it because of the presence of amantadine would make you feel quite ill for a while, in much the same way as those who have tried the antibiotic regime can feel worse before they get better. Just wondering,

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Dom

from my understanding of what the abx-er's experience, it is caused by the killing (ie dying and then release of toxins) of bacteria, while anti-virals do not actually kill virus, just stop them replicating, and hence I wouldn't expect it to cause herx reactions. But, again, I am just projecting from my understanding (or misunderstanding) of the process.

It did not work for me, either, but in all honesty I probably did not give it as long as I should have because I am reluctant to take more drugs.

Hi Marcia-
The amantadine worked a bit for my husband for about six months, and then the effects stopped. He was then put on provigil (200mg.) and is doing quite well.

The natural supplement which has really helped him is creatine monohydrate. He takes a medical grade powder supp. mid day. He feels better on this than on the provigil alone. He's even able to cut back some days on the provigil. Fatigue is the most debilitating symptom for him...mind and body-numbing exhaustion. But this summer he's feeling a slight increase in energy. Might be creatine...might be the RR phase of MS.
Hope you find something to help-
AC

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Husband dx RRMS 3/07
dx dual jugular vein stenosis (CCSVI) 4/09
dual stents placed 5/09
CCSVI in MS

Dom
that's very interesting that you found it took 6 months to reach full effect. I gave up on it before the 6 months. Maybe it's time to revisit it again....


Can I ask for those of you who are, or were, on amantadine, do you notice any negative side-effects?

I am tempted to take it once more and to give it 6 months this time....

After taking it for three days, I woke up on the fourth morning and my legs were so weak that I literally had to crawl to the bath room. My husband came home from work to take care of me that day and I never took it again.

This would have been during the time frame when I could walk without aids.

gwa

That sounds horrendous GWA, how scary for you.
I am still undecided about the Amantadine, it didn't do that to me when I was on it, but then again I'm not sure it did anything really..........

I have taken it regularly before, but now I just take it now and then. I use it for its anti-viral effects.

I noticed nothing, good nor bad. It is like taking a sugar tablet for me. My dosage was 2x 100mg doses per day.

Hi Cure,
There are several types of antiviral drug, which interfere with different stages of the viral lifecycle. Amantadine works by blocking receptor proteins on the cell surface, thereby preventing the virus from entering the cell in the first place. I was wondering if somehow these " mother" viruses, which have never been through the host's cell replication machinery, provoke a stronger immune response than " daughter" viruses which have, and might consequently present more of the host's protein on the shell surface. I haven't got a clue, really: I was just wondering out loud. gwa's experience sounds really awful, and although dizziness and weakness are listed as possible side effects I hadn't realised you could be that badly affected.

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Dom