Amantadine is an old molecule being first used in 1966. Amantadine appeared to have promising antiviral profile. Its antiviral properties led to its usage in Influenza. An interesting fact about Amantadine is that Chinese used the drug on poultry when Avian Influenza hit Asian countries. Millions of doses of the drug were given to protect poultry industry from Avian Flu. As a result of the usage, Avian Flu virus has now mutated to develop resistance against the drug. Its antiviral activity is believed to be related to its property that it blocks a crucial protein needed for the replication of the virus. The virus not being able to reproduce becomes an easy prey for the immune system. However the catch is that influenza virus quickly develops immunity to the drug.
Just three years after the discovery of Amantadine as an antiviral drug, it was accidently discovered that the molecule can be used in Parkinson’s disease. Parkinson’s is a challenging condition to treat with no known cure. The disease results in the impairment of the dopamine metabolism. Levodopa or artificial dopamine is notorious to have very little or no efficacy at all. Though full action of Amantadine on the dopamine producing neurons is not understood, it seems to increase the production of dopamine in the brain. Amantadine is helpful to control involuntary constant shaking of the hands and other organs.
Recent research on the drug shows that a triple therapy constituting the combination of Amantadine, Ribavirin and Oselatmivir is effective against H1N1 strain of influenza.
Amantadine
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