Amantadine Hydrochloride as a Prophylactic in Respiratory Infections. A Double-Blind Investigation of Its Clinical Use and Serology

The prophylactic effect of amantadine hydrochloride on respiratory infections of the influenza type was investigated in 96 persons. In a double-blind technique 48 persons selected at random received amantadine while 48 patients received placebo. Symptoms recorded daily by means of numerical indices were: sore throat, hoarseness, nasal catarrh, bronchial catarrh, coughing, fever, ague, muscular pain, and signs of sinusitis and inflammation of the ears. Possible side effects were also recorded, i.e., gastrointestinal disorders (diarrhea, nausea), headache, sleeplessness, nervousness, restlessness, depression, and dermatosis.

Thirty-three amantadine-treated and 31 placebo-treated subjects were troubled at one time or another during the 30-day period by symptoms of respiratory in fections. Serologic determinations of antibody titers showed no rise of importance during the treatment period. Amantadine hydrochloride did not reduce the incidence of upper respiratory infections in this trial. Patients treated with amantadine, however, showed lower incidence of hoarseness and fever and less discomfort from coughing during the treatment period than the placebo-treated patients. Thus, in this investigation amantadine has been shown to have a suppressing effect on some of the symptoms of respiratory infections of influenza type, although the reason for this is not known. As the side effects of the drug seem to be rather slight, amantadine is recommended for further clinical trial.

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