Amantadine Side Effects
Applies to amantadine: oral capsule, oral capsule extended release, oral capsule liquid filled, oral solution, oral syrup, oral tablet, oral tablet extended release.
Serious side effects of Amantadine
Along with its needed effects, amantadine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking amantadine:
More common
- Bladder pain
- bloody or cloudy urine
- blurred vision
- confusion
- difficult, burning, or painful urination
- dizziness or lightheadedness
- fainting
- falls
- frequent urge to urinate
- lower back or side pain
- seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there
- swelling of the hands, feet, or lower legs
Less common
- Inability to move the eyes
- increased blinking or spasms of the eyelid
- muscle spasm
- sticking out of the tongue
- trouble breathing, speaking, or swallowing
- uncontrolled twisting movements of the neck, trunk, arms, or legs
- unusual facial expressions
Rare
- Chills
- decreased vision or any change in vision
- difficulty in coordination
- fever
- increased blood pressure
- increase in body movements
- irritation and swelling of the eye
- loss of memory
- mental depression
- seizures
- severe mood or mental changes
- skin rash
- slurred speech
- sore throat
- thoughts of suicide or attempts at suicide
Other side effects of Amantadine
Some side effects of amantadine may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.
Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
More common
- Agitation
- anxiety
- difficulty concentrating
- dry mouth
- headache
- irritability
- loss of appetite
- nausea
- nervousness
- nightmares
- purplish red, net-like, or blotchy spots on the skin
- trouble with sleeping
Less common
- Blindness
- blurred vision
- constipation
- decrease in sexual desire
- decreased vision
- diarrhea
- drowsiness
- dry eyes
- dryness of the mouth, nose, and throat
- false sense of well-being
- joint swelling
- unusual tiredness or weakness
- vomiting
For Healthcare Professionals
Applies to amantadine: compounding powder, oral capsule, oral capsule extended release, oral syrup, oral tablet, oral tablet extended release.
General
The more commonly reported adverse reactions have included nausea, dizziness/lightheadedness, and insomnia.[Ref]
Nervous system
Common (1% to 10%): Dizziness/lightheadedness, ataxia, headache, somnolence, dystonia
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Weakness, slurred speech, hyperkinesia
Rare (less than 0.1%): Convulsion
Frequency not reported: Falling asleep during activities of daily living, withdrawal-emergent hyperpyrexia (a syndrome resembling neuroleptic malignant syndrome)
Postmarketing reports: Coma, delirium, hypokinesia, involuntary muscle contractions, gait abnormalities, paresthesia, EEG changes, tremor[Ref]
Psychiatric
Very common (10% or more): Hallucinations (up to 21%)
Common (1% to 10%): Insomnia, depression, anxiety, irritability, hallucinations, confusion, nervousness, abnormal dreams, agitation
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Psychosis, euphoria, abnormal thinking, amnesia
Rare (less than 0.1%): Suicide attempt, suicide, suicidal ideation
Postmarketing reports: Stupor, delusions, aggressive behavior, paranoid reaction, manic reaction, pathological gambling, increased libido including hypersexuality, and impulse control symptoms[Ref]
Gastrointestinal
Very common (10% or more): Dry mouth (up to 16%); constipation (up to 13%)
Common (1% to 10%): Nausea, anorexia, diarrhea, decreased appetite
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Vomiting
Postmarketing reports: Dysphagia[Ref]
Cardiovascular
Very common (10% or more): Peripheral edema (up to 16%), orthostatic hypotension (up to 13%)
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Congestive heart failure, hypertension
Postmarketing reports: Cardiac arrest, arrhythmias including malignant arrhythmias, hypotension, and tachycardia[Ref]
Ocular
Common (1% to 10%): Dry eye, cataract, blurred vision
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Visual disturbance, punctate subeithelial or other corneal opacity, corneal edema, decreased visual acuity, sensitivity to light, optic nerve palsy
Rare (less than 0.1%): Oculogyric episodes
Postmarketing reports: Keratitis, mydriasis[Ref]
Other
Very common (10% or more): Fall (up to 13%)
Common (1% to 10%): Fatigue, contusions
Frequency not reported: Death
Postmarketing reports: Fever[Ref]
Deaths have been reported from overdose with the lowest reported acute lethal dose as 1 gram. Drug overdose has resulted in cardiac, respiratory, renal, or CNS toxicity. Deaths have been reported in patients with renal impairment and attributed to drug accumulation.[Ref]
Respiratory
Common (1% to 10%): Dry nose, cough
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Dyspnea
Postmarketing reports: Acute respiratory failure, pulmonary edema, tachypnea[Ref]
Hematologic
Rare (less than 0.1%): Leukopenia, neutropenia
Postmarketing reports: Leukocytosis, agranulocytosis[Ref]
Dermatologic
Common (1% to 10%): Livedo reticularis, pigmentation disorder
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Skin rash
Rare (less than 0.1%): Eczematoid dermatitis
Postmarketing reports: Pruritus, diaphoresis[Ref]
Hypersensitivity
Postmarketing reports: Allergic reactions including anaphylactic reactions[Ref]
Genitourinary
Common (1% to 10%): Urinary tract infection, benign prostatic hyperplasia
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Urinary retention, decreased libido[Ref]
Renal
Postmarketing reports: Elevated: CPK, BUN, serum creatinine[Ref]
Hepatic
Rare (less than 0.1%): Reversible liver enzyme elevations
Postmarketing reports: Elevated: alkaline phosphatase, LDH, bilirubin, GGT, SGOT, and SGPT[Ref]
Musculoskeletal
Common (1% to 10%): Joint swelling, muscle spasms[Ref]
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between Osmolex ER and Gocovri?
- What is Gocovri used to treat?
- Why should you not discontinue amantadine?
- How long does it take for amantadine to start working?
- Why was amantadine discontinued for flu?
- What symptoms does amantadine treat?
- What is Gocovri (amantadine) and how does it work?
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Patient resources
- Amantadine drug information
- Amantadine Extended-Release Tablets
- Amantadine Extended-Release Capsules
Other brands
Gocovri, Symmetrel, Osmolex ER
Professional resources
- Amantadine (Antiviral) monograph
- Amantadine (FDA)
- Amantadine Oral Solution USP (FDA)
- Amantadine Syrup (FDA)
- Amantadine Tablets (FDA)
Other brands
Related treatment guides
References
1. Product Information. Symmetrel (amantadine). DuPont Pharmaceuticals. 2002;PROD.
2. Product Information. Gocovri (amantadine). Adamas Pharmaceuticals Inc. 2018.
3. Product Information. Amantadine Hydrochloride (amantadine). Sandoz Inc. 2018.
4. Smith EJ. Amantadine-induced psychosis in a young healthy patient. Am J Psychiatry. 2008;165:1613.
5. Michalski LS, Hantsch Bardsley C, Holt DR, Milner JE, Hou SH. Altered mental status in a transplant patient. Amantadine toxicity. Kidney Int. 2009;75:243-4.
6. Antiviral drugs for influenza. Med Lett Drugs Ther. 2009;51:89-92.
7. Kataoka H, Ueno S. Dropped head associated with amantadine in Parkinson disease. Clin Neuropharmacol. 2011;34:48-9.
8. Beal E. Parkinson disease: Amantadine administration is associated with impulse control disorders in PD. Nat Rev Neurol. 2011;7:62.
9. Salgado JC, Gutknecht DR. A reticular rash. Am J Med. 2006;119:577-8.
10. Alonso Navarro H, Sanz-Aiz A, Izquierdo L, Jimenez Jimenez FJ. Syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone Secretion Possibly Associated With Amantadine Therapy in Parkinson Disease. Clin Neuropharmacol. 2009;32:167-168.
Further information
Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.
Some side effects may not be reported. You may report them to the FDA.