Amantadine-dopamine interaction: possible mode of action in Parkinsonism

Intravenous doses of amantadine hydrochloride, an antiviral drug, as small as 0.08 milligram per kilogram may release dopamine and other catecholamines from neuronal storage sites in dogs primed with dopamine. This release may account for the reported efficacy of amantadine hydrochloride in the treatment of human parkinsonism.