Posted by King Vultan on May 25, 2004, at 17:27:57
In reply to Amantadine w/ Nardil, posted by Questionmark on May 25, 2004, at 7:13:41
Well, in my "Psychotropic Drugs" book, amantadine is listed in Table 13-3 for various sexual dysfunctions:
Anorgasmia 100 mg prn (I'm not sure what "prn" means); 1 hr before sexual activiity
Erectile dysfunction 100 mg bid (I think that means twice a day)
Hypoactive desire 100 mg bid
In the section on Parkinson's Disease, it says"Amantadine increases the intrasynaptic availability of dopamine by enhancing its release from otherwise depleted dopaminergic neurons and is thought to inhibit dopamine reuptake as well. Amantadine has a relatively strong anticholingeric effect (although milder than that of the other anticholinergics), making it unique among the dopaminergic antiparkinsonism drugs. Unlike levodopa, amantadine can be used to treat drug-induced parkinsonism, no doubt related to its anticholinergic properties....Amantadine has a unique role among the anticholinergic antiparkinsonism drugs in the treatment of sexual disorders induced by neuroleptics and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)."
So how anticholinergic is it? I don't know, but I think the statement by your doctor is a bunch of you know what in that the anticholinergic effects are minor compared to those of Nardil. I take 90 mg/day of Nardil myself, and I've also taken three tricyclics with anticholinergic effects varying from moderate to severe, and my opinion is that the anticholinergic effects of Nardil are relatively minor in absolute terms, perhaps moderate at the very worst. I'm guessing amantadine is at least as anticholinergic as Nardil, but it's not a drug I have actually tried; although, it does sound interesting.Todd
poster:King Vultan
thread:350356
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040521/msgs/350544.html