Good luck to both of you with the Amantadine!

Amantadine caused me to have VERY VERY VERY vivid dreams.

They were so vivid that I could not seperate dream events for real ones.

I found myself quoting some "long dead" folks on "current events".

Had to stop taking the Amantadine.

jackD

p.s. Started taking some Acetyl-L-Carnitine next.
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1: J Neurol Sci. 2004 Mar 15;218(1-2):103-8.


Comparison of the effects of acetyl L-carnitine and amantadine for the treatment of fatigue in multiple sclerosis: results of a pilot, randomised, double-blind, crossover trial.

Tomassini V, Pozzilli C, Onesti E, Pasqualetti P, Marinelli F, Pisani A, Fieschi C.

Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Rome "La Sapienza", viale dell' Universita 30, Rome 00185, Italy.

Treatment with acetyl L-carnitine (ALCAR) has been shown to improve fatigue in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome, but there have been no trials on the effect of ALCAR for treating fatigue in multiple sclerosis (MS). To compare the efficacy of ALCAR with that of amantadine, one of the drugs most widely used to treat MS-related fatigue, 36 MS patients presenting fatigue were enrolled in a randomised, double-blind, crossover study. Patients were treated for 3 months with either amantadine (100 mg twice daily) or ALCAR (1 g twice daily). After a 3-month washout period, they crossed over to the alternative treatment for 3 months. Patients were rated at baseline and every 3 months according to the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), the primary endpoint of the study. Secondary outcome variables were: Fatigue Impact Scale (FIS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Social Experience Checklist (SEC). Six patients withdrew from the study because of adverse reactions (five on amantadine and one on ALCAR).

Statistical analysis showed significant effects of ALCAR compared with amantadine for the Fatigue Severity Scale (p = 0.039). There were no significant effects for any of the secondary outcome variables.

The results of this study show that ALCAR is better tolerated and more effective than amantadine for the treatment of MS-related fatigue.

Publication Types:
• Clinical Trial
• Comparative Study
• Randomized Controlled Trial

PMID: 14759641 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Like I mentioned earlier: everyone reacts differently ...

keep track of what's going on or not.

keep in touch with your doctor.

My doc. has learned to listen to me

good luck everyone!

Niko

Hope amantadine helps the two of you. Unfortunately, it only made me extremely constipated. LOL! I also tried acetyl - carnitine, but my "delicate" tummy could not handle it. I am such a mess when it comes to meds or supplements!

33%...phooey...maybe we'll be lucky and be a part of the crowd. Thanks for all the input I will watch for signs of things mentioned. Problem is I'm already loopy, don't need any meds making it worse.

Well, K, you noticed any difference yet?

I'm still battling an ear infection, so I haven't noticed any change in energy. Just tired and lazy most of the time.

My dreams haven't changed. They are vivid anyway because of the LDN, but not disturbingly so.

i hope the med helps you. and twink.

drs need to really listen to their pts more.

Twink I hope your ear infection clears up quickly. Maybe then you'll notice a difference in energy?

I am so jittery, anxious and restless. My legs, feet and hands are cramping. My dry eyes are so dry they feel like there is sand in the sockets. I have a headache and a stomach ache. I am having difficulty sleeping at night even though I'm exhausted.

It's hard to explain. I am still very tired and my legs hurt and I need to sit down and rest and I just can't do it because I am hyper!!

I don't think this is the medication for me. I called my neuro's office to get some information such as should I keep taking it? Will it work better after taking it for some time? Of course they closed the office early today and it's Friday.

So I decided not to take it anymore. I would rather be tired than feel like this. I'll call the neuro on Monday.

Can you tell I'm a bit over the top right now?? I hate feeling like this.

Well, darnit! Sorry Amantadine isn't working for you.

I was of the understanding that it takes a month or so for the side-effects to let up, but I can see why you'd want to stop taking it, K.

You're such a little person; I wonder if you could take a smaller dose to begin with? I'll be interested to know what the doc tells you.

Amantadine will also cause you to develop some nasty Purple and Red Lower Legs.

i.e. "livido reticularis" - which is a weird kind of blotchy rash thing.

For me it became a permenant thing. I now have some little ulcers from this condition .. 12 years after I stopped taking the stuff. It is worse in the winter time.

jackD