Amantadine is the generic name of Symmetrel and is a
prescription drug that comes in the form 100 mg capsules or 10 mg/ml oral
liquid. In veterinary medicine, it is used in as a support therapy to NSAIDs in
the management of chronic pain relating to dog arthritis, surgery, or cancer. Talking to Your Vet about Amantadine
The use of Amantadine in the treatment of dog arthritis pain
is a fairly new practice. In fact, it was only after a 2008 study that revealed
the efficacy of Amantadine as a support therapy to NSAIDs that more vets began
considering the drug as a treatment option for dog arthritis. Nevertheless, you
should ask your vet the following questions if Amantadine is being considered:
- What are the side effects of Amantadine? There are no known side effects yet established in dogs. However the drug has been known to cause diarrhea, hallucinations, and dizziness in human patients.
- Is Amantadine safe to use with other drugs? Amantadine should never be used together with trimethoprim-sulfa, quinidine, thiazide diuretics, and anticholinergic drugs. Also, inform your vet of any medications (not mentioned in the list), supplements, or vitamins that you are giving to your dog. The information will prove useful if your dog does not respond well to Amantadine.
- What if my dog has a pre-existing condition? More studies are needed in this area. However, as a precautionary measure, vets will avoid recommending the drug to dogs that have seizure disorders or have conditions of the liver, heart, or kidneys.
Use of Amantadine
In the 2008 study, Amantadine was used in conjunction with
an NSAID. The test dogs were first treated with Meloxicam for five weeks. In
the third week, Amantadine was introduced at a dosage of three to five
milligrams per kilogram of the dog’s weight. The drug was given only once every
twenty-four hours for the next three weeks. When the study ended, it was
revealed that the combination of Amantadine and an NSAID worked better than
using an NSAID alone.
Usually when your vet is recommending Amantadine, this will
be alongside an NSAID that your vet has chosen to use in your dog. The
administration and the dosage will normally follow what was in the 2008 study.
Thus, the dose will be around 3-5 milligrams per kilogram of the dog’s weight.
However, the use of Amantadine should never exceed fourteen days and the drug
can only be used again if the pain returns.