This thread is here to describe my experience with amantadine to give a case study of sorts for others to look at and decide if it's something they want to try.
Stimulants have harsh sides and addictive potential and the non stims are only partially effective for many and can sometimes themselves be intolerable hence why I'm trying something more unconventional.
I might link the studies and reviews I've read about it later, but for now I'm just gonna say that there are a lot of preliminary studies suggesting efficacy ranging from somewhere between untreated and stim meds to being as effective as stims for treating adhd symptoms for both inattentive and hyperactivity symptoms.
The MOA relevant to adhd has to do with NMDA antagonism. This has indirect effects that increase dopaminergic activity in the pathways and areas of the brain involved w/ executive fuction. There's also a lot of promising studies in regards to autism symptoms specific to executive function.
There's even some decent evidence suggesting that it makes a good adjunct for antidepression meds.
The effects are typically noticed within a couple days to as long as a couple of weeks although it occasionally can be noticed in the first day or two. Steady state serum levels are usually reached 48-72 hours.
I also have depression and anxiety that is currently being well managed with sertraline and aripiprazole and therapy. As of now and the past several weeks my mood has been good and rumination/worry feelings and thoughts have been infrequent and mild. I still have the unresolved symptoms of low energy, lack of focus, difficulty concentrating, difficulty w/ initiative, internal restlessness w/ outward fidgeting, and tiredness.
Without further ado the log starts here:
100mg BID morning and mid-afternoon
Day1:
I'm very surprised.
After just two doses, my head is a little clearer and some of my adhd restlessness has been abated. I'm not fidgeting quite as much. My mental energy levels and mental stamina is improved somewhat. Early responses to psych meds are something that psychiatrists see as promising regarding a med's potential success for a patient so I'm feeling pretty optimistic!
The only sides I'm experiencing right now is very slightly increased perspiration and very slightly reduced appetite.
I'll post again in 3 days which will be long enough to have reached steady state serum levels.
