Defeat who? Defeat on my body are swollen double because of Amantadine!

I knew I'd get your attention if I was silly. But my feet ARE killing me after stopping Amantadine cold turkewy 5 days ago.

I had taken Amantadine years ago, and vaguely remember that it caused my legs to look splotchy, like fishnet hose. But I do not remember it causing painful swelling. I am trying to keep my feet up as much as possible, which I was already doing for the one foot on which I had surgery.

About 8 weeks ago, I finally had surgery on my right foot for an old stress fracture that wouldn't heal. We had tried the moon boot thing, but the fracture slowly got worse. The orthopedic doctor is a "foot specialist" (I have no idea what the professional would call her - maybe "Defeat specialist" lol), and she put a pin through my metatarsals. She also had me in a cast with no weight bearing the past 8 weeks. I was elated that she let me get out of that wheelchair. But I have a new cast now for 4 more weeks. She said that I could put weight on my foot as tolerated, but the swelling is not cooperating with me.

I hate that I had to stop the Amantadine; it worked wonders for my dyskinesia. I saw at the Michael J. Fox Foundation website that they are doing a clinical trial with Amantadine and will also be establishing some baseline measurements for dyskinesia. I am getting bad with it.

But, alas, I cannot use Amantadine. The pharmacist said that was the culprit, and the doctor confirmed the same.

Anyone else have such an experience?

Peggy

Hi Peg, my husband sufferred swelling (gross edema) of both feet after being on Amantadine for ~2 1/2 yrs. He stopped it for 1 to 2 months and started back on it at the same dosage 100 mgm 2X/day (i think)--no edema has occurred since restarting the amantadine. i have no idea if this is common practice, or why it worked with my husband. just FYI. I am still questioning use of amantadine in light of study showing association btn use of anticholinergics and cognitive decline. no decision as yet. husband continues on amantadine. madelyn

Peggy,

I'm sorry to hear of your agony in da feet. You have my sympathy. Many years ago I had corrective surgery done for a clubbed foot where they metatarsal bones were broken and the foot was straightened. The surgery was only a few hours then I was in a cast up to my hip for 9 weeks! I'm sure that the procedures have changed since 1982, but still the pain is still the same.

Regardin the Amantadine, I've been pretty lucky so far. I've had no side-effects other than being able to avoid the mild flu bugs and colds as they float around during the fall and winter seasons.

I hope that there can be something done for your dykinesia.

John

Hi Peggy,
Sorry for your problems, and hope de feet soon behave themselves.
I took amantadine for a period, but it stops working after about 6 months. I stopped cold turkey also, but got away without any problems. I suffer from dyskinesia now with just 50mg of levodopa, but I am not going to restart amantadine. It doesn't seem worth the trouble when it only works for a few months.
Hang in there!!!
Best wishes
Ron

Thanks, Olsen. I wonder why some have edema and others don't? John, a cast any bigger and I's go nuts! I don't know how you do it.

Hi, Ron. I agree about the meds not worth thhe trouble for just a few months relief.

By the way, has anyone heard anything about PWP and the H1N1 flu shoot? Anything we need to know about how it mixes with PD meds?

Peg

Peggy,
I have been on amantadine for 4 yrs and do have swollen legs problem. Flax seed oil helps to cut down on swelling for me.

Girija

Thanks girija. The pain has been horrible. And I also have a bad headche that comes and goes. The medicine (Amantadine) must still be in my system; I still have really blotchy legs. The swelling is somewhat beter, but sill painfully present. having one foot in a cast doesn't help matters.

Peg