Efficacy and safety of low dosage amantadine hydrochloride as prophylaxis for influenza A

The efficacy and safety of prophylactic low dose amantadine hydrochloride was assessed in two double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized studies. In a study of 476 subjects aged 18 to 55 years, adverse reactions were not significantly different between the group receiving 100 mg/day amantadine and the placebo group but significantly greater in the group given 200 mg/day (P less than 0.009). The influenza attack rate in this study was too low to assess efficacy. In an experimental challenge study of influenza A/Beth/1/85 in 78 subjects of similar age the prophylactic administration of 50 mg, 100 mg or 200 mg/day doses of amantadine were more effective than placebo in preventing influenza illness (P less than 0.02, 66, 74 and 82% protection, respectively), and in suppressing viral replication (P = 0.02). There was no significant difference between amantadine groups in influenza illness or viral shedding. Compared with the placebo group the 100 and 200 mg amantadine groups showed a significant decrease in infection rate (100 mg: 40% protection: P = 0.012; 200 mg: 32% protection: P = 0.045) whereas the 50 mg group did not (20% protection: P = 0.187). These results suggest that 100 mg/day of amantadine will reduce toxicity but maintain the prophylactic efficacy seen with 200 mg/day.