Amantadine for the treatment of childhood and adolescent psychiatric symptoms

Proc (Bayl Univ Med Cent). 2021 Jun 1;34(5):566-570. doi: 10.1080/08998280.2021.1925827. eCollection 2021 Sep.ABSTRACTThis retrospective study examined clinical parameters associated with amantadine treatment of psychiatric symptoms in children. A total of 297 pediatric patients were prescribed amantadine and met study criteria to assess clinical responses and medication outcomes. More than 62% of patients experienced clinically significant symptom control and 83% achieved at least maintenance symptom control, while 11% discontinued amantadine for nonresponse and 6% stopped amantadine because of side effects. Among patients previously receiving other psychotropic medication, 42% and 28% of patients fully discontinued second- or third-generation antipsychotics or antidepressants, respectively. Patients responsive to amantadine who discontinued or reduced antipsychotic dose experienced a significant reduction in body mass index. Amantadine appears be an efficacious and safe alternative for treatment of a broad set of psychiatric symptoms in children and adolescents. Specifically, it may serve as an effective adjunct to stimulants for attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder-related symptoms and appears to be a safer alternative to second- or third-generation antipsychotics.PMID:34456474 | PMC:PMC8366930 | DOI:10.1080/08998280.2021.1925827
Source: Baylor University Medical Center Proceedings - Category: Universities & Medical Training Authors: Source Type: research