Peg, I started losing my vision progressively..I saw an optomologist and a cornea speciailst, and the dx was corneal edema in both eyes..I was almost blind..The cause, Amantadine..I have all the symptoms of the side effects caused by Amantadine, and since I went from 300 mgs to 200 mgs per day, my vision has improved remarkably, so the eye Drs are right

I have bought Amantadine from 2 pharmacys..CVS and Wal Mart, and they both come in capsules, not pills..CVS has yellow caps, and Wal Mart has red caps

Where do you get yours, cuz I would rather have the tablets, so I can cut them in pieces?

Here's a photo: http://www.drugs.com/imprints/832-amt-7548.html

The orange pills come from Medco mail order through my health insurance.

You mentioned anxiety which made me think of a drug that I have been taking for the last year call propranolol that is a 3-for-1 combo that helps hypertension, PD, and anxiety as well. Symphony musicians use it for performance anxiety and olympic sharpshooters to steady their aim. The effect on me has been very subtle but it seems to control some 3:00 AM anxiety attacks that were threatening to become a problem. It is a very old beta blocker with few side effects. Wikipedia has a pretty good writeup.

Thanks Rick, I will check that out

I take propranolol; it helps reduce the vibration in my bones. Causes more constipation, though.

Also called Inderal. Frequently prescribed for essential tremor. I've never had side effects (only take it occasionally) except when I drank a glass of wine and felt a bit sluggish from the combo. Good stuff.

Jon

Side effects can certainly be a problem with amantadine. I think a major problem is that the 100 mg size of amantadine capsules and tablets is too large to allow accurate dose titration.

I've been using amantadine with other PD meds for over a year now with minimal side effects. It has provided critical benefits, allowing me to regain 30 pounds, sleep 8 hours a night instead of 4, and walk instead of being in a transport chair. Mainly, it reduces my dyskinesia and "motor fluctuations" between off-state tremor and on-state dyskinesia.

I don't use the 100 mg capsules or tablets. Although it is less convenient, I use the 10 mg/ml amantadine syrup. In my case, I take 4.5 ml (45 mg) three times a day at 8 hour intervals. My doctor and I arrived at this dosage by using the syrup at 50 mg/day, then 100, then 150. At 150, I had good benefits, but some edema in my feet, which subsided before the next daily dose. We then tried 50 mg three times a day at 8 hour spacing and then backed off to 45 mg per each 8 hours. This provided all the benefits without the foot swelling.

I'm not a physician or a pharmacist, but my non-medical opinion is that amantadine can be a very good drug if your PD responds to it and if you work carefully with your doctor to find the smallest effective dose. This would be easier if amantadine were available in a second smaller tablet size, e.g. 20 mg.

Pharma companies, are you listening?

Dave

Thank You Shetawk!..I did some research on your link, and I found that Walgreens has an afilliation with Medco..Walgreens does not stock Amantadine in tablet form, but they can order them from Medco

My neuro gave me some samples of Azelect, and I took it for 9 days, and I have had dyskenisia and dystonia like I've never experienced..His plan, which made no sense to me, was to replace Amantadine with Aziect, so I could taper off Amantadine..It is like trying to put out a fire with gasoline..The more time that passes, the more I believe with all my heart is, if you dont become your own advocate, do your own research, and think outside of the box when necessary, Dr's can really make you really sick

Azilect can make L-dopa work more efficiently, so the dyskinesia may indicate that you can make some adjustment on L-dopa while taking Azilect.

I have been taking Azilect (1 mg) for almost a year right after I was diagnosed. I feel Azilect is subtle and slow yet effective. It takes time to kick in and will be well tolerated. While taking Azilect, I am OK with my "smallest effective dose" of Mirapex ER at no more than 1.5 mg/day. This dosage is not enough if I do not take Azilect.