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Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease which affects the brain and spinal cord. MS can cause a variety of symptoms, including changes in sensation, visual problems, muscle we...

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Discussion:
Amantadine/Symmetrel Question
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Does anyone have any experience with Amantadine? I started taking it a few days ago for fatigue and I'm wondering how long it should take to show some effectiveness. At this point, I think I am more tired than I was before I started taking it. This morning I got up just before 8:30, showered, took the amantadine, and took my kids to school. By 9:30 I was back home and back to sleep until 2:15. It is now almost 6:00 and I feel like I'm ready to go back to sleep again. Can anyone relate to this? Do I just need to give the medication more time? I'm taking 100mg 2x/day. The problem is that I'm undiagnosed so they were reluctant to start me on anything to help any of my symptoms so I should just be thankful that they gave me this. The other thing they said it might help is the cognitive issues, but that doesn't seem any better, either.
Thanks
Posted on 05/13/08, 07:05 pm
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Reply #1 - 05/14/08  1:49am
" I have taken Amantadine before. My doctor said it takes a few days for the medication to kick in. It never did anything for me. I understand about being very fatigued. Being fatigue is a huge symptom for me daily. Oh yes I take naps a loy. On the weekends when I'm not working I could take a nap around noon. I try to hold off until my normal naptime of three to 5 p.m.. So yes I can relate. Hang in there. Hit me up on my page if you have any questions. "
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Reply #2 - 05/14/08  1:50am
" Sorry I use a software program that translates my words into text. It is a perfect. oops "
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Reply #3 - 05/14/08  1:59am
" Sorry to hear of your experiences. Dealing with fatigue is difficult enough without also having difficulty locating the correct meds. 2 quick suggestions: Many MS'ers take provigil, but sometimes difficult to get insurance companies to cover the cost. You might google NORD and see if they still cover provigil, or google presciption assistance plans. Secondly,google aspirin, MS, fatigue --One study says aspirin will help with MS fatigue, but be very cautious that aspirin thins your blood and is thus dangerous for many people to take (check witha PCP you trust before taking aspirin). "
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Reply #4 - 05/14/08  10:21am
" I had similar issues with amantidine. It actually made me more fatigued. It seemed like a good choice, cheap no bad side effects. Provigil works for me. "
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Reply #5 - 05/14/08  11:06am
" hmmm...it worked a little bit for me but i think i was on a bit of a higher dose...Have you had the spinal tap yet? that sometimes helps the diagnosis process. "
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Reply #6 - 05/14/08  11:12am
" OMG OMG OMG i sent you a message read it read it read it plllleeeeaaaassseeee it's important "
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Reply #7 - 05/14/08  3:55pm
" I had to stop taking it becaus e it made me dizzy and off balance and after almost a week it was not doing anything it is supposed to take 2 weeks to start working on fatigue it long run it supposed to work on MS if your EB numbers are out of whack ask your doctor about the epstein barr virus numbers for you this is what the nurse for my nuero told me. only me where never took and now I am not on anything for fatigue. "

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