Duration of amantadine benefit on dyskinesia of severe Parkinson's disease

J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2004 Jan;75(1):141-3.

Abstract

Background: Recent short-term studies suggested that amantadine (Ama) might ameliorate dyskinesia in patients with Parkinson's disease. A double-blind study programmed over 12 months was designed to assess the duration of the antidyskinetic effect of amantadine on levodopa induced dyskinesia.

Methods: 40 patients treated for 7.5 (2.2) years with levodopa (729.3 (199.4) mg/day) and dopaminoagonists, having peak dose or dyphasic dyskinesia with or without pain, were assessed with the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale subscale IV, Items 32-34, the Dyskinesia Rating Scale and Investigator Global Assessment. Twenty patients received amantadine chloridrate (100 mg) and 20 received a placebo. The Ama or placebo could be withdrawn when scores indicated worsening of dyskinesia, after agreement with the patient.

Results: After 15 days of amantadine treatment there was a reduction by 45% in the total dyskinesia scores. All patients in the placebo group were withdrawn in 1-3 months and all patients in the Ama group were withdrawn in 3-8 months (p = 0.01, p<0.001). Ama withdrawal induced a rebound with increase of dyskinesia by 10-20% in 11 patients.

Conclusion: 300 mg amantadine reduces dyskinesia in Parkinson's disease by approximately 45% but the benefit lasted less than eight months.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Amantadine / pharmacology*
  • Amantadine / therapeutic use*
  • Dopamine Agents / pharmacology*
  • Dopamine Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Dyskinesias / drug therapy*
  • Dyskinesias / etiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Levodopa / adverse effects
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Parkinson Disease / complications*
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Dopamine Agents
  • Levodopa
  • Amantadine