Amantadine

[Guest guest]

Has anybody used Amantadine? Any thoughts or opinions? Can it be a viable

alternative to Valtrex?

Thanks,

Aliza

....the test of a civilization is in the way that it cares for its helpless

members.

-Pearl S. Buck

[Guest guest]

I have heard of amantadine being used in small doses

for some kids with ADHD - I used to give it to

psychotic patients to try to offset the extrapyramidal

effects of their harsh anti-psychotic drugs such as

haldol. I have not heard of any DAN! docs using it

for anti-viral effects. It can have very bad side

effects:

Side Effects

Amantadine has been associated with several CNS side

effects, including nervousness, anxiety, agitation,

insomnia, difficulty in concentrating, and

exacerbations of pre-existing seizure disorders and

psychiatric symptoms in patients with schizophrenia or

Parkinson's disease. This is due to the fact that

Amantadine possesses significant anticholinergic

activity. Very indicative side effect for amantadine

is livedo reticularis, the dermatological reaction

that results in skin mottling and purpurish mesh

network of blood vessels.

I would not consider it unless your doc has had a lot

of experience and knows how to dose it and watch for

side effects. The problem is that our kids have a

hard time telling us about the side effects. As an

alternative to valtrex, I would first go to the

naturals such as olive leaf extract, almost as good

and much less expensive and easily available

(especially combined with virastop). Dr. JM

--- Aliza Ratterree wrote:

> Has anybody used Amantadine? Any thoughts or

> opinions? Can it be a viable alternative to

> Valtrex?

>

> Thanks,

> Aliza

>

> ...the test of a civilization is in the way that it

> cares for its helpless members.

>

> -Pearl S. Buck

>

> [Non-text portions of this message have been

> removed]

>

>