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Before Using
In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:
Allergies
Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.
Pediatric
Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated pediatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of amantadine in children. Safety and efficacy have not been established in children younger than 1 year of age.
Geriatric
Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of amantadine in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have age-related kidney, liver, or heart disease which may require an adjustment in the dose for patients receiving amantadine.
Pregnancy
| Pregnancy Category | Explanation | |
|---|---|---|
| All Trimesters | C | Animal studies have shown an adverse effect and there are no adequate studies in pregnant women OR no animal studies have been conducted and there are no adequate studies in pregnant women. |
Breastfeeding
There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.
Drug Interactions
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.
- Potassium Chloride
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Betel Nut
- Bromperidol
- Bupropion
- Triamterene
Other Interactions
Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.
Other Medical Problems
The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
- Congestive heart failure or
- Eczema, recurrent, history of or
- Epilepsy or seizures, history of or
- Liver disease or
- Low blood pressure (hypotension) or
- Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS), history of or
- Peripheral edema (swelling of the hands, ankles, or feet) or
- Psychosis (a mental disease), history of—Use with caution. May make these conditions worse.
- Glaucoma, angle-closure, untreated (narrow-angle glaucoma)—Should not be used in patients with this condition.
- Kidney disease—Use with caution. The effects of this medicine may be increased because of slower removal from the body.
