I broke down and asked my neuro for something for my fatigue today at my appointment. He prescribed Amantadine. He also wants me to go for an MRI since it's been three years. He just wants to make sure the fatigue I am experiencing isn't just MS activity going on that is presenting itself as fatigue. I'm dreading the MRI because I can't stand to be trapped in that tube. But I gotta do what I gotta do.

My appointment was at 10 but I didn't get to see him until 11:45!!! One of the neuros passed away a short time back and they are short handed. There was another neuro that sat in on my appointment and I guess he's the new neuro. Hopefully I won't have to wait this long again next time I go in six months!

I too hate the MRI. I find that covering my eyes helps a lot! I make sure to bring my sleep mask or eye goggles, or have them put a wash cloth over my eyes BEFORE they snap on that head thing. With a bit of Xanax, or some Ativan, i can usually get through it.

Glad you got something for the fatigue.

I loved Amantadine. Since I have been using LDN, I don't seem to need it any longer. A is a nice anti viral, too.

My neuro explained it used to be used for the flu before Tamiflu (??) came out. He stressed it is not good for Swine flu. He said it's been around for a long time.

He was reluctant to prescribe it to me - I have to really push him to prescribe anything! I'm glad he did and I hope it works for me.

You might want to keep a journal/diary of how you react to the Amantadine i.e. hour you take it, the dosage and when you notice a difference or not

The reason I suggest that is that there are several anti-fatigue meds. out there are everyone reacts differently.

I've taken Provigil, Amantadine (separately and together), now just on Ritalin-SR.

I wish you well!

Niko

Niko - thanks for the idea of keeping track of when I take it and how I feel. I will do that!

I started Amantadine today too!

Probably a good thing I had to go pick it up, because I had a nurse look at my ears while I was there: ear infection. Bleh.

My hearing lately is similar to when you're underwater and everything is muffled. The antibiotic should help that.

I take LDN and it did give me a measure of energy. But lately I'm just tired of being tired, so I asked for something from my family doc. It was the PA who suggested it and I'll be very happy if it gives me an added boost.

Hope it works for you, too, Karousel! Good luck with that MRI.

Oh, phooey. I just found info on this site http://www.geocities.com/HotSprings/...ations-ms.html

that says Amantadine only works in about 33% of people (it was referring to MSers who needed energy).

Well, maybe we'll get lucky!

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]