Symmetrel (Amantadine)

Amantadine (Symmetrel) is an antiviral medicine mainly used to treat and prevent influenza A infections, although it is now less effective because resistance has become widespread. In the UK, it is more commonly used by specialists for Parkinson's disease symptoms and drug-induced movement disorders, where it works by increasing dopamine levels in the brain. Amantadine is available in different forms, including tablets and prolonged-release capsules. Symmetrel is a dopaminergic medicine, which means it can increase the levels of certain chemicals that carry signals in the nervous system, including the brain.

Uses

Amantadine is an antiviral medicine that is 70-90% effective at preventing influenza A infections and can reduce symptoms if it is taken within 24-48 hours of symptoms starting. Its effect is broadly comparable to rimantadine and vaccination, but it becomes less effective after 48 hours, and resistance among influenza strains is an increasing concern. In addition, amantadine is mainly used for influenza A.

Symmetrel capsules are used:

• to treat Parkinson's disease by improving muscle control and reducing stiffness, shakiness and shuffling;
• to help reduce pain in shingles (herpes zoster).

Symptoms

Certain signs can help tell apart the causes of flu-like illness. Nasal congestion and a runny nose are common in most cases but rare in inhalational anthrax.

Fever, chills, tiredness, cough, headache, muscle pain, sore throat and a runny nose occur in 64-94% of laboratory-confirmed influenza cases. By contrast, similar symptoms appear in 62-94% of patients with other viral or bacterial infections (excluding inhalational anthrax), although fever is present in only 40-73%. Nausea or vomiting occurs in 12%, abdominal pain in 22%, shortness of breath in 6%, and chest discomfort in 23-35% of these patients. In inhalational anthrax, 60-80% of patients experience shortness of breath and chest pain, 80-90% have nausea, and 70% report drenching sweats.

Early chest X-rays in patients with inhalational anthrax often show mediastinal widening, infiltrates and pleural effusion. Most flu-like illnesses do not show pneumonia on X-rays, although this can happen in young children, older adults, or people with chronic lung disease. Influenza-associated pneumonia affects about 1-5% of adults and more than 20% of older adults infected with influenza.

Mechanism of Action

The exact way amantadine works as an antiviral has not been fully established.

Amantadine, like rimantadine, inhibits viral replication by interfering with the influenza A virus M2 protein, an integral membrane protein. The M2 protein of influenza A acts as an ion channel and is essential in at least two parts of virus replication: disassembly of the infecting virus particle and regulation of the ionic environment of the transport pathway. By interfering with the ion channel function of the M2 protein, amantadine inhibits two stages in the influenza A replicative cycle. Early in the cycle, amantadine inhibits uncoating of the virus particle, probably by blocking the acid-mediated separation of the virion nucleic acid and proteins, which prevents transport of viral genome material into the nucleus.

Amantadine also prevents viral maturation in some strains of influenza A (for example, H7 strains) by promoting pH-induced conformational changes in influenza A haemagglutinin during intracellular transport late in the replicative cycle. The virus's adsorption and penetration into cells do not appear to be affected by amantadine. In addition, amantadine does not interfere with the synthesis of viral components (for example, RNA-directed RNA polymerase activity).

Treatment with amantadine for established influenza A infection does not appear to interfere with the antibody response to the infection; however, some reduction in local immune responses has been seen in some patients. Because preventive use of amantadine can stop influenza illness and, to a lesser extent, subclinical infection, some people who take amantadine can still develop immune responses that may protect them if they are exposed to the same or antigenically related viruses after stopping amantadine prophylaxis. Amantadine does not interfere with the immunogenicity of influenza A virus vaccine.

Amantadine-related increases in lysosomal pH may inhibit virus-induced membrane fusion in enveloped RNA viruses that are susceptible to higher concentrations of amantadine than those needed to inhibit influenza A.

Pharmacokinetics

Absorption

Amantadine hydrochloride is well absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, with peak blood concentrations occurring 1-4 hours after an oral dose. For a 100 mg capsule, average peak plasma concentrations are around 0.22 mcg/mL at 3.3 hours, and similar concentrations are seen with the oral solution. Higher doses can lead to more than proportional increases in plasma concentration, especially above 200 mg daily.

Distribution

Amantadine is distributed into various tissues, including the heart, lungs and kidneys, with higher concentrations in lung tissue than in blood. It is also found in nasal secretions and breast milk, with a notable erythrocyte-to-plasma ratio. The volume of distribution is about 3-8 L/kg.

Elimination

The elimination half-life of amantadine averages about 24 hours, but it can be prolonged in older patients and in people with renal impairment. It is mainly excreted unchanged in the urine, with some metabolites identified. Acidifying the urine can increase amantadine excretion, while haemodialysis removes only minimal amounts of the medicine.

Ingredients

The active ingredient in this medicine is amantadine hydrochloride. Each Symmetrel capsule contains 100 mg amantadine hydrochloride. The other ingredients are lactose, povidone, magnesium stearate, red iron oxide (E172), titanium dioxide (E171), gelatin and white printer ink.

Dosage

Symmetrel capsules are brownish-red hard gelatin capsules with SYMM printed on them in white. Symmetrel capsules come in packs of 56 capsules.

Amantadine hydrochloride is taken by mouth as a single daily dose or, preferably, in 2 equal divided doses to reduce temporary side effects. If insomnia occurs, the last daily dose should be taken several hours before going to bed.

Duration of Therapy

Treatment

For symptomatic treatment of respiratory tract illness caused by influenza A virus, amantadine hydrochloride should be started as soon as possible, preferably within 24-48 hours of symptoms beginning. The ACIP currently states that it may be advisable to stop amantadine treatment as soon as clinically appropriate, generally within 3-5 days or 24-48 hours after symptoms disappear, because there is some risk that strains of influenza A resistant to amantadine and rimantadine may emerge during treatment. However, immunocompromised people may need a longer course of treatment.

Prevention

When a suspected influenza A outbreak occurs in a hospital, care home or other institution housing high-risk patients, amantadine prophylaxis should be started as soon as possible after the outbreak is recognised and continued for at least 2 weeks or until about one week after the end of the outbreak. When amantadine hydrochloride is used as an adjunct to influenza vaccine, it is usually given for 2 weeks after the vaccine to provide chemoprophylaxis until a protective antibody response develops. Children younger than 9 years who are receiving influenza vaccine for the first time may need amantadine prophylaxis for up to 6 weeks after vaccination or until 2 weeks after the second vaccine dose.

When vaccination is contraindicated, amantadine prophylaxis may be given throughout the local influenza A outbreak, which may last as long as 6-12 weeks. Amantadine prophylaxis may also be given throughout the outbreak period when a poor antibody response to influenza vaccine is expected (for example, in patients with severe immunodeficiency, including acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)).

The manufacturer states that prophylaxis with amantadine hydrochloride should be started before, or as soon as possible after, the patient has contact with someone who has a respiratory illness thought to be caused by influenza A virus, and should be continued for at least 10 days after a known exposure.

Dosage in Renal Impairment

In patients with renal impairment, amantadine hydrochloride dosage should be adjusted carefully, and some clinicians recommend that blood concentrations of the medicine are monitored frequently. One manufacturer recommends that patients with creatinine clearance of 15-50 mL/minute per 1.73 m² receive 200 mg of amantadine on the first day, followed by 100 mg maintenance doses given once daily in patients with creatinine clearance of 30-50 mL/minute per 1.73 m² or once every other day in those with creatinine clearance of 15-29 mL/minute per 1.73 m². This manufacturer recommends that patients with creatinine clearance below 15 mL/minute per 1.73 m² and haemodialysis patients receive 200 mg of amantadine every 7 days.

Because dose adjustment based on creatinine clearance may only provide an approximate guide to the best dose for an individual patient, these patients should be observed so that side effects can be recognised promptly and either the dose can be reduced further or the medicine can be stopped if necessary. Haemodialysis contributes minimally to the clearance of amantadine.

If You Forget to Take Symmetrel 100mg Capsules

If you miss a dose, take one as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for your next dose. Then carry on as before. Do not take a double dose.

If You Stop Taking Symmetrel Capsules

Do not stop taking Symmetrel 100mg capsules suddenly, as your symptoms may get worse.

If you want to stop taking Symmetrel 100mg capsules, speak to your doctor. They will tell you how to reduce the dose gradually.

If you are taking antidepressants (used to treat mental health conditions) and you suddenly stop taking Symmetrel capsules, you may develop some symptoms, including:

• fever;
• sweating;
• a rapid heartbeat;
• muscle stiffness (difficulty moving);
• loss of bladder control (you may have a sudden urge to pass urine).

Contact your doctor straight away if you develop any of these symptoms.

Some patients may notice that this medicine becomes less effective after taking it regularly for a few months. If you notice this, tell your doctor.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any further questions about using this product.

Important Safety Information

Take care when drinking alcohol while taking Symmetrel 100mg capsules, as it may affect you more than usual.

Symmetrel 100mg capsules should be taken with a glass of water.

Symmetrel 100mg capsules contain lactose. If your doctor has told you that you are intolerant to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking Symmetrel 100mg capsules.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Do not take Symmetrel 100mg capsules if you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant. Do not take Symmetrel 100mg capsules if you are breastfeeding, because Symmetrel passes into breast milk and could harm your baby. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking any medicine.

Driving and Using Machines

Taking Symmetrel capsules may cause blurred vision or make you feel dizzy. If this happens, do not drive or use machines until the effects have worn off.

Resistant Strains of Influenza A Virus

Amantadine- and rimantadine-resistant strains of influenza A can develop in about 33% of patients treated with these antivirals. Patients may initially shed susceptible virus strains but can start shedding resistant strains after 2-7 days of treatment, with immunocompromised people potentially shedding them for longer.

To help limit resistance, amantadine treatment should be stopped after 3-5 days or once symptoms resolve. Although most patients recover even after resistant strains emerge, these strains are still pathogenic. They can reduce the effectiveness of prophylaxis in close contacts. People with flu-like symptoms should avoid contact with uninfected individuals, regardless of antiviral treatment.

Pediatric Precautions

The safety and efficacy of amantadine in children younger than 1 year of age have not been established. When used in children, amantadine has caused central nervous system (CNS) symptoms, which resolved when the medicine was stopped. The incidence of CNS-related side effects appears to be higher in people receiving amantadine than in those receiving rimantadine. An increased incidence of seizures has been reported in children with an underlying seizure disorder receiving amantadine.

Geriatric Precautions

While the safety and efficacy of amantadine in older patients have not been explicitly established, the medicine has been used in many older people. The frequency and severity of CNS side effects reported in people older than 65 years taking amantadine are higher than those reported in older people taking rimantadine. Older adults may have reduced renal function, and because people with renal impairment may be at increased risk of amantadine-induced toxicity, the dosage of amantadine hydrochloride for adults in this age group should not exceed 100 mg daily. This dose may need to be reduced further in some older patients.

Mutagenicity and Carcinogenicity

Amantadine was not mutagenic in the Ames microbial test using Salmonella typhimurium or a mammalian mutagen assay using Chinese hamster ovary cells when the tests were performed with or without metabolic activation. In addition, there was no evidence of chromosome damage in an in vitro test using freshly derived and stimulated human peripheral blood lymphocytes (with or without metabolic activation) or an in vivo mouse bone marrow micronucleus test (140-550 mg/kg; estimated human equivalent dosage of 11.7-45.8 mg/kg based on body surface area conversion). Long-term animal studies have not been performed to evaluate the carcinogenic potential of amantadine.

HIV-Infected Individuals

In the UK, annual flu vaccination is recommended for all adults and children aged 6 months and over living with HIV, as they may be at increased risk of complications from influenza.

Influenza virus is not traditionally classified as an opportunistic pathogen. However, many experts consider vaccination against the virus sensible for any HIV-infected person, whether symptomatic or asymptomatic, because of the possible risks of respiratory infections in these patients, and many are likely to develop protective antibody levels after vaccination.

Antiviral prophylaxis may be used alongside, or as an alternative to, influenza vaccination in people living with HIV who may have a poor antibody response to the vaccine and/or a high risk of exposure to influenza A, particularly during seasonal outbreaks or in institutional settings. In the United Kingdom, oseltamivir may be used to help prevent influenza A and B infection, while older agents such as amantadine have more limited use.

Contraindications

Amantadine should be used cautiously in patients with liver disease, uncontrolled psychosis, seizure disorders, or those taking CNS-active medicines. Patients with a history of seizures require close monitoring for increased activity. Because of possible CNS effects and visual disturbances, amantadine may impair the ability to carry out tasks that require alertness, such as driving. It is contraindicated in people with untreated angle-closure glaucoma.

Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) has been reported, particularly when amantadine is reduced or withdrawn, so careful observation is needed in patients taking antipsychotics. Dose adjustments may be needed for those with renal impairment, congestive heart failure or orthostatic hypotension. Resistant strains of influenza A can emerge during treatment, posing a risk of transmission to high-risk individuals.

People with flu-like illness should minimise contact with uninfected people. Clinicians should consider possible bacterial infections when treating suspected influenza. Amantadine is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to adamantane derivatives.

Do not take Symmetrel 100mg capsules in the following cases:

• if you are allergic (hypersensitive) to amantadine hydrochloride or any of the ingredients of Symmetrel capsules (see Section 6 Further information);
• if you have fits (convulsions), for example epilepsy;
• if you have ever had an ulcer in your stomach or small intestine;
• if you have any severe kidney disease;
• if you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant;
• if you are breastfeeding.

If any of the above applies to you, or if you need more information, speak to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Symmetrel capsules.

Before you take Symmetrel capsules, tell your doctor if:

• you have any liver or kidney disease;
• you have a history of disease affecting the heart and blood vessels;
• you currently have heart problems or heart failure (heart problems that cause shortness of breath or swollen ankles);
• you have any mental illness, for example schizophrenia or dementia;
• you have increased pressure in the eyes (glaucoma).

If any of the above applies to you, or if you need more information, speak to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Symmetrel capsules.

Interactions

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, or have recently taken, any of the following medicines, as they may interact with Symmetrel capsules:

This medicine may also interact with the following:

• Influenza Virus Vaccine: Amantadine does not interfere with the antibody response to influenza vaccines and can be given at the same time.
• CNS Stimulants: Caution is advised when amantadine is combined with CNS stimulants because of the risk of additive effects.
• Co-trimoxazole: Taking these together may reduce amantadine's renal clearance, mainly due to trimethoprim. Toxic delirium has been reported after this combination.
• Other Drugs: Combining amantadine with triamterene and hydrochlorothiazide increased plasma amantadine levels, although the exact cause is unclear. Quinidine or quinine may also reduce amantadine's renal clearance. In addition, using amantadine with CNS-active antihistamines can increase CNS side effects.

Please tell your doctor or pharmacist in the United Kingdom if you are taking, or have recently taken, any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription.

Side Effects

Amantadine can cause a range of side effects, which can affect different parts of the body:

Common Side Effects

• Gastrointestinal: Nausea (5-10%), loss of appetite, constipation, diarrhoea, dry mouth (1-5%), and vomiting (up to 1%).
• Nervous System: Dizziness, insomnia, nervousness, confusion, agitation, hallucinations, and psychotic episodes. More severe effects may include seizures and neuroleptic malignant syndrome after stopping treatment.
• Cardiovascular: Orthostatic hypotension, peripheral oedema (1-5%), congestive heart failure, arrhythmias, and tachycardia.

Less Common Side Effects

• Dermatological: Livedo reticularis (1-5%), rash, and sensitivity to sunlight.
• Ocular: Visual disturbances such as corneal opacity and reduced visual acuity (up to 1%).
• Psychiatric: An increased risk of mania and suicidal thoughts; symptoms may be worse in people with a history of mental health problems.

Rare but Serious Effects

• Neurological: Peripheral neuropathy has been reported in long-term users; stopping treatment can lead to acute delirium.
• Hematologic: Rare cases of leukopenia and neutropenia.
• Respiratory: Dyspnoea and rare cases of acute respiratory failure.

Side effects are often dose-related, with higher doses increasing the risk of more severe reactions. People with kidney problems or a history of seizures are at greater risk of central nervous system effects. Regular monitoring is advised for those taking amantadine long term.

Toxicity

Manifestations

An overdose of amantadine can be fatal, with the lowest reported lethal dose being 2 g. Symptoms of acute overdose include heart problems (arrhythmias, tachycardia, hypertension), pulmonary oedema, kidney dysfunction, and central nervous system toxicity (insomnia, anxiety, confusion, hallucinations). Reported cases have included severe reactions such as seizures and hyperthermia. For example, one patient who took 2.5 g experienced coma and cardiopulmonary arrest.

Treatment

There is no specific antidote for amantadine overdose. If the overdose was recent, gastric lavage or induced vomiting may be needed. Supportive treatment includes monitoring vital signs and giving fluids. ECG monitoring is essential because of the risk of tachyarrhythmias. Agents that acidify the urine can increase amantadine excretion, but haemodialysis is only minimally effective. Careful observation for hyperactivity and seizures is important; sedatives and anticonvulsants may be needed. Physostigmine has been used to manage central nervous system toxicity, but its risks should be taken into account.

Storage

Keep out of the sight and reach of children. Do not use Symmetrel capsules after the expiry date shown on the packaging. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month. If your doctor decides to stop your treatment, return any unused medicine to your pharmacist. Only keep it if your doctor tells you to.

Do not dispose of medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines you no longer need. These measures help protect the environment.