Experience with Amantadine?

[EnlightenME]

So my general practitioner doc prescribed Amantadine HCL 100 mg for me to try the mornings.

Has anyone tried this for focus and/or help to start the day?

If so, is this a low dose for us? Also, doc said it would also help with nerves.

I have tried modafinil but I can only take very small amounts and not regularly and not on worse days. I am a little nervous because in the past doc has prescribed too high a dose for me with modafinil, and another stimulant.

I am not looking for a huge energy boost or anything, just a bit of mental clarity and focus, and to start the day earlier. I tend to get more energy later in the afternoon and evening.

 

[hapl808]

I don't know if amantadine is something that you can titrate. For modafinil, I tried the smallest pill and then split it down to 25mg. Still crashed from it so it was a no-go for me, but I'm sure the crash from 100mg would've been far worse.

 

[hmnr asg]

regarding modafinil: I tried it, it was terrible! Not only it didnt help me, it gave me insomnia. It truly sucks.
I have also tried amantadine and memantine. Amantadine is actually good and gave me some focus, but I have read that you get desensitized to it so people seem to take it for a week and then a break. So be on the lookout for that, but I think its definitely worth a try.

 

[Shanti1]

I use amantadine occasionally for focus. I find it to be gentler than modafinil. I have 100mg tablets and I take about 25mg at a time. When I first took it, I started even lower to make sure my body was ok with it.

It promotes dopamine release and also has some NMDA antagonistic effect, which I think helps temper the stimulation. It was also once used as an antiviral for influenza A until most strains became resistant.

I have also tried two other medications in the same class, memantine and bromantane. For me, memantine is a little more calming, it has stronger NMDA antagonism. Bromantane was more sedating that stimulating for me, but I have read from others on this site who prefer it for that reason. I prefer the amantadine when I simply feel foggy, but if my brain feels wired and unfocused, I like memantine.

 

[almost]

Amantadine is one of the very few drugs I have an allergic reaction to -- I got terrible hives all over my body. It's uncommon but not for this individual. What's funny for several years now is when I see a doc, the intake nurse goes over my allergies and each new one asks "what's amantadine? Never heard of it."

Also made famous on a House, MD episode.

Didn't know it was still in use. I truly hope it works for you.

 

[perchance dreamer]

Amantadine gave me sleep problems, even when taken as soon as I woke up.

 

[Hip]

Dr David Bell found amantadine 25 mg to 50 mg twice daily helps reduce fatigue ME/CFS, but says higher doses can exacerbate symptoms and can cause jitteriness. Ref: 1

 

[EnlightenME]

Thanks for all the feedback from everyone, very helpful! I will be seeing my doctor tomorrow to see if I can get it in tablet form and start with lower doses.

 

[EnlightenME]

Dr David Bell found amantadine 25 mg to 50 mg twice daily helps reduce fatigue ME/CFS, but says higher doses can exacerbate symptoms and can cause jitteriness. Ref: 1

Thanks for the reference! Very helpful.

 

[hapl808]

Thanks for all the feedback from everyone, very helpful! I will be seeing my doctor tomorrow to see if I can get it in tablet form and start with lower doses.

Did you ever try amantadine?

By the way @Hope_eternal you may be interested in this thread.