A Controlled Trial of Amantadine and Rimantadine in the Prophylaxis of Influenza a Infection

Abstract

Four hundred fifty volunteers participated in a placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized trial of the prophylactic effects of rimantadine and amantadine during an outbreak of influenza A. The subjects received drugs orally at a dose of 100 mg twice a day for six weeks. Influenza-like illness occurred in 41 per cent of the subjects receiving placebo but in only 14 per cent of those receiving rimantadine and 9 per cent of these receiving amantadine (P less than 0.001 for either drug vs. placebo). Laboratory-documented influenza occurred in 21 per cent of placebo recipients, 3 per cent of rimantadine recipients, and 2 per cent of amantadine recipients (P less than 0.001). These findings represent efficacy rates of 85 per cent for rimantadine and 91 per cent for amantadine, as compared with placebo. More recipients of amantadine (13 per cent) than recipients of rimantadine (6 per cent; P less than 0.05) or placebo (4 per cent; P less than 0.01) withdrew from the study because of central-nervous-system side effects. On the basis of this study, rimantadine appears to be the drug of choice for the prophylaxis of influenza A.

Interferon and amantadine in naive chronic hepatitis C: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial

“…Amantadine is a tricyclic amine exhibiting antiviral activity against influenza A [8][9][10] and other viruses including some flaviviridae 11,12 to which HCV belongs. Whereas its mechanism(s) of action against influenza A is well characterized, 13 that against other viruses remains ill defined.…”

T-705 (favipiravir) activity against lethal H5N1 influenza A viruses

“…antiviral compounds | murine lethal-infection model | neuraminidase T o treat influenza, which causes respiratory disease with significant morbidity and mortality especially among the elderly and young (1), the M2 ion channel blockers (aminoadamantanes: amantadine and rimantadine) have been used for more than two decades (2,3). However, aminoadamantane-resistant viruses, which readily arise (4,5), limit the efficacy of these drugs.…”

Bis(adamantan-1-aminium) carbonate

“…It has been reported that 1-aminoadamantane hydrochloride (marketed as Symmetrel) is effective in the prevention and treatment of the influenza (A) virus (Hoffmann, 1973;Dolin et al, 1982;Bright et al, 2005). However recent studies suggest that the virus is becoming increasingly resistant to this anti-influenza drug (Betakova, 2007).…”

“…For applications of adamantane-ammonium salts in virology, see: Hoffmann (1973); Dolin et al (1982); Bright et al (2005); Betakova (2007). For applications of amines for the capture of CO 2 from the atmosphere, see : Yang et al (2008).…”