amantadine
Amantadine is an FDA-approved medication for people. But veterinarians often prescribe it off-label to treat chronic pain in cats and dogs. It’s an NMDA antagonist that works to block pain signals in pets. Amantadine comes as tablets, capsules, and a commercially-available liquid. Pets usually need to take the medication by mouth once or twice a day. Side effects for cats and dogs include gas and diarrhea. Amantadine is typically given with other pain medications.
What is Amantadine for pets?
What is Amantadine for pets used for?
- Chronic pain conditions (e.g., arthritis, cancer, nerve pain) in cats and dogs
How Amantadine for pets works
Amantadine is an N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonist. It works by blocking the NMDA receptor. This helps stop nerves from sending pain signals to the brain, which reduces the feeling of pain.
Drug facts
Side effects of Amantadine for pets
The following side effects might get better over time as your pet gets used to the medication. Let your veterinarian know immediately if your pet continues to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Changes in behavior (e.g., restlessness, anxiety, aggression)
- Gas
- Diarrhea
Less Common Side Effects
Amantadine serious side effects
Contact your veterinarian immediately if your pet experiences any of the following.
The following Amantadine side effects have also been reported
Along with its needed effects, a medicine 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:
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
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
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
thoughts of suicide or attempts at suicide
Some side effects 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
difficulty concentrating
headache
irritability
loss of appetite
nervousness
nightmares
purplish red, net-like, or blotchy spots on the skin
trouble with sleeping
Less common
Blindness
blurred vision
decrease in sexual desire
decreased vision
drowsiness
dryness of the mouth, nose, and throat
false sense of well-being
joint swelling
unusual tiredness or weakness
vomiting
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
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Pros and cons of Amantadine for pets
Pros
- Generally well tolerated when given as instructed
- Can improve how well cats and dogs with osteoarthritic pain can move
- Can give with other pain medications that are safe for cats and dogs
Cons
- Need to give to pets carefully (even a little too much can cause serious side effects)
- Can take about a week or longer for pain relief
- Might not be safe for pets with kidney, liver, or heart problems; behavioral problems; or seizures
Pharmacist tips for Amantadine for pets
- You can give amantadine to your cat or dog either once or twice a day. Studies show that twice-a-day dosing might work better for pain relief. Talk to your vet about how often your pet should take the medication.
- You can give amantadine to your pet with or without food.
- Amantadine can cause stomach upset and gas in animals. If your pet has these side effects, it might help to give amantadine with a small amount of food or a treat.
- Call an emergency vet or a pet poison helpline right away if your pet shows signs of an amantadine overdose. These signs include vomiting, restlessness, shaking, and seizures. An overdose can happen if your pet accidentally takes even a little too much or if their dose is too high.
- If you forget to give amantadine to your pet, give it to them as soon as you remember. But if there’s less than 8 hours left until the next scheduled dose, skip the dose. Wait to give the medication at the usual dose at the usual time. Don’t double up on the dose to make up for any missed doses because it can cause side effects and overdose.
- Always ask a vet before giving amantadine to a pregnant or nursing cat or dog. It’s not clear if the medication is safe for them. In general, amantadine should only be used if the vet thinks the benefits are greater than the risks.
Tips for the liquid form of amantadine for cats and dogs:
- Your vet might suggest a special liquid form of amantadine for your pet that’s made by a compounding pharmacy. This could be a good option if your pet doesn’t like the fruit flavor of the usual liquid form of amantadine. It could also be helpful if your pet needs a smaller dose than what’s usually available.
- Use an oral syringe to measure out amantadine for your pet. Don’t use household spoons because they aren’t accurate. Using household spoons might make you give the wrong dose to your pet. Ask your vet or pharmacy for oral syringes.
- For the commercially-available liquid form of amantadine: Place the bottle of liquid at room temperature (between 68 and 77 degrees Fahrenheit). Throw it away after the expiration date on the bottle, even if there’s still medication left.
- For the compounded liquid form of amantadine: Follow your vet’s instructions on how to store the compounded liquid and when to discard it. This makes sure the medication stays safe for your pet to take.
Common questions about Amantadine for pets
You can buy amantadine for dogs at retail pharmacies or from a veterinarian. If your dog needs a special liquid version for better taste or more exact dosing, you can get it made at some compounding pharmacies. All forms of amantadine need a prescription from a vet. You can use a GoodRx coupon at most retail pharmacies to help lower the cost.
Amantadine is safe for most dogs when given at the right dose. But some dogs should take the medication with caution or not at all because of the risk of side effects. Use amantadine carefully in dogs with kidney, liver, or heart problems; certain skin conditions; seizures or epilepsy; or behavioral issues. Dogs with some types of glaucoma shouldn’t take this medication. Also, watch for signs of overdose, which can happen if a dog takes even a little too much amantadine. Call a vet or a pet poison helpline right away if your dog trembles, faints, or has a seizure, irregular pulse, trouble breathing, or fever. Talk to a vet to make sure amantadine is safe for your dog.
It can take a week or so before your cat gets enough pain relief from amantadine. But for some cats, it could take several weeks before you see the full benefits of the medication. Keep in mind that how long it takes for amantadine to work can be different for every cat. Pay attention to signs of pain that your cat might be showing and see whether it improves. Ask your vet if you have questions about how long it’s taking amantadine to help relieve your cat’s pain.
No, gabapentin and amantadine aren’t the same medication. Vets can prescribe either medication off-label for cats and dogs to help with chronic pain. But they work in slightly different ways to change how nerve cells in the brain send out pain signals. How often you need to give the medication to your pet might also be different. Gabapentin is usually given every 8 to 12 hours for pain, but amantadine is given every 12 or 24 hours. Talk to your vet about which medication is best for your pet’s chronic pain.
Yes. You can give gabapentin and amantadine together if your vet prescribed them both for your dog’s chronic pain. amantadine is often given with other pain medications like gabapentin for relief. If your dog takes gabapentin and amantadine together, they might feel sleepy, have an upset stomach, or have changes in behavior. Ask your vet about whether giving both medications is a safe and good option for your dog.
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Risks and warnings for Amantadine for pets
Amantadine can cause some serious health issues. This risk might be even higher for certain pets. If this worries you, talk to your veterinarian about other options.
Risk of amantadine overdose
- Risk factors: Giving too much amantadine to your pet | Cat or dog with kidney problems
If your cat or dog takes too much of amantadine, even by a little, it can lead to a dangerous overdose. This can happen if you accidentally give your pet too much medication.
An amantadine overdose can also happen if you give the medication to a cat or dog with kidney problems. When the kidneys don’t work properly, the body can’t get rid of amantadine. This can lead to too much medication in the body. Talk to your vet before giving this medication to your pet if they have kidney problems.
Signs of an amantadine overdose in pets include vomiting, restlessness, and seizure. Call a vet or a pet poison helpline right away if you think your pet has taken too much amantadine.
Possible fluid buildup and swollen legs
- Risk factors: Cats or dogs with heart problems (e.g., heart failure) | Cats or dogs with kidney problems
Amantadine might make the body hold onto extra fluid, which can cause swelling in your pet’s legs. The risk of complications from this fluid buildup is higher if your cat or dog has heart or kidney problems.
Tell your vet if your pet has any heart or kidney issues to make sure amantadine is safe. Call your vet if you notice that your pet’s legs swell after they start taking the medication.
Possible behavior changes
- Risk factors: Cats or dogs with behavior problems
Some cats and dogs might act differently while they’re taking amantadine. They might seem anxious, nervous, aggressive, restless, or want more attention than usual. Talk to your vet if your pet’s behavior changes in a way that worries you.
Caution use in cats and dogs with liver problems
Talk to your vet before giving amantadine if your pet has liver problems. Cats and dogs with a liver condition should take this medication with caution. We don’t know whether amantadine is safe for pets with liver problems. But in people, this medication has a rare risk of raising liver enzyme levels, which can be a sign of liver damage.
Amantadine dosage forms for pets
Typical dosage for Amantadine
Your pet’s amantadine dose will be based on their weight. The typical dose for cats and dogs is 3 mg/kg to 5 mg/kg by mouth every 12 or 24 hours.
Interactions between Amantadine and other drugs for pets
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Amifampridine
- Bupropion
- Donepezil
- Glucagon
- Memantine
- Methacholine
- Metoclopramide
- Quetiapine
- Secretin Human
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Betel Nut
- Bromperidol
- Triamterene
- Trimethoprim
How much does Amantadine cost?
$5.64
Amantadine contraindications for pets
Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a pet should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If your pet has any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to your pet, let your veterinarian know because Amantadine will not be safe for your pet to take.
- Pets with some types of glaucoma
What are alternatives to Amantadine for pets?
Amantadine images
