Proper Use

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

For patients taking amantadine for Parkinson's disease or movement problems (including dyskinesia) caused by certain medicines used to treat nervous, mental, and emotional conditions:

  • Take this medicine exactly as directed by your doctor. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered.
  • This medicine comes with a Medication Guide or patient information leaflet. Read and follow these instructions carefully. Ask your doctor if you have any questions.
  • Do not stop using this medicine suddenly without asking your doctor. You may need to slowly decrease your dose before stopping it completely.
  • Improvement in the symptoms of Parkinson's disease usually occurs in about 2 days. However, in some patients, this medicine must be taken for up to 2 weeks before the full benefit is seen.

For patients taking amantadine to prevent or treat flu infections:

  • Talk to your doctor about the possibility of getting a flu shot if you have not had one yet.
  • This medicine is best taken before exposure or right away after exposure to people who have the flu.
  • To help keep yourself from getting the flu, keep taking this medicine for the full time of treatment. Or if you already have the flu, continue taking this medicine for the full time of treatment even if you begin to feel better after a few days. This will help clear up your infection completely. If you stop taking this medicine too soon, your symptoms may return. This medicine should be taken for at least 2 days after all your flu symptoms have disappeared.
  • This medicine works best when there is a constant amount in the blood. To help keep the amount constant, do not miss any doses. Also, it is best to take the doses at evenly spaced times at day and night. For example, if you are to take two doses a day, the doses should be spaced about 12 hours apart. If this interferes with your sleep or other daily activities, or if you need help in planning the best times to take your medicine, check with your doctor.
  • If you are using the oral liquid form of amantadine, use a marked measuring spoon, oral syringe, or medicine cup to measure each dose correctly. The average household teaspoon may not hold the right amount of liquid.

Take Gocovri® extended-release capsule at bedtime. Swallow whole. Do not crush, break, or chew it. You may also open and sprinkle the extended-release capsules on a teaspoonful of soft food, including applesauce. Take all of the medicine right away without chewing. You may take this medicine with or without food.

Take Osmolex ER™ extended-release tablet in the morning. Swallow whole. Do not crush, open, or chew it.

Do not receive the nasal flu vaccine (live attenuated influenza vaccine) while taking this medicine.

Do not drink alcohol while you are using this medicine.

Dosing

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

  • For treatment of Parkinson's disease or movement problems (including dyskinesia):
    • For oral dosage forms (extended-release capsules):
      • Adults—137 milligrams (mg) once a day at bedtime. Your doctor may increase your dose to 274 mg (two 137 mg capsules) once a day at bedtime after one week.
      • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
    • For oral dosage forms (extended-release tablets):
      • Adults—129 milligrams (mg) once a day in the morning. Your doctor may increase your dose each week to a maximum dose of 322 mg (one 129 mg tablet and one 193 mg tablet) once a day taken in the morning.
      • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
    • For oral dosage forms (liquid-filled capsules, syrup, and tablets):
      • Adults—100 milligrams (mg) 2 times a day. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed.
      • Older adults—At first, 100 milligrams (mg) once a day as a single dose. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed.
      • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
  • For the treatment or prevention of flu:
    • For oral dosage forms (capsules, syrup, and tablets):
      • Adults—200 milligrams (mg) or 4 teaspoonfuls once a day as a single dose.
      • Older adults—100 milligrams (mg) once a day as a single dose.
      • Children 9 to 12 years of age—100 milligrams (mg) or 2 teaspoonfuls 2 times a day.
      • Children 1 to 9 years of age—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The usual dose is 4.4 to 8.8 milligrams (mg) per kilogram (kg) of body weight per day. The dose is divided evenly and given 2 times a day. However, the dose is usually not more than 150 mg per day.
      • Children younger than 1 year of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

If you miss a dose of amantidine, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at your usual time. Do not take extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.

Storage

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.

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Portions of this document last updated: April 01, 2024

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