CONTROLLED TRIAL OF AMANTADINE HYDROCHLORIDE IN PARKINSON'S DISEASE

A double-blind cross-over trial of amantadine hydrochloride, 200 mg. daily, and placebo, each given for 2 weeks, was conducted on thirty-seven outpatients with Parkinson's disease. Thirty-five patients completed the trial and gave a highly significant preference for amantadine. Features of history and examination were assessed by means of a standard questionary and all features showed a significant improvement in score on amantadine, except for the patients' assessment of their walking ability and the observers' examination of rigidity. The degree of improvement was not related to age, sex, duration or severity of disease, previous thalamolysis, or concurrent medication. Amantadine is probably similar in its mode of action to L-dopa, and although the amount of benefit may be less with amantadine, the drug was free of side-effects and was well tolerated by all patients in the trial.