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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 3 of 3. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Questionmark on May 25, 2004, at 7:13:41
i'm on 60mg Nardil, and the anorgasmia is a b**ch-- as are the anticholinergic side effects (to which i seem to be quite sensitive). i was recently prescribed amantadine (Symmetril) for the former side effect. i was also in the process of raising my Nardil dose, however, so i did not want to start the amantadine consistently until that balanced out. But i have taken it several times or so at seperate periods, and, though i'm not yet sure how it would help with the anorgasmia (since i didn't have any opportunities to test it after taking it), it seemed to make my anticholinergic symptoms even worse. My doctor told me that the anticholinergic effects of amantadine would be negligible and less than Nardil's, but i'm now wondering if he just said that so as to prevent me from psychologically convincing myself of the opposite. i cannot deal with a greater severity of increased anticholinergic symptoms.
So, without further rambling, is anyone knowledgeable with amantadine and the severity of its anticholinergic effects, and how much it might help with anorgasmia, sexual funtion, SP/SAD, depression, cognitive function, energy levels, and /or motivation? If you could provide me with some input i'd be very appreciative. Thanks.
Posted by King Vultan on May 25, 2004, at 17:27:57
In reply to Amantadine w/ Nardil, posted by Questionmark on May 25, 2004, at 7:13:41
Well, in my "Psychotropic Drugs" book, amantadine is listed in Table 13-3 for various sexual dysfunctions:
Anorgasmia 100 mg prn (I'm not sure what "prn" means); 1 hr before sexual activiity
Erectile dysfunction 100 mg bid (I think that means twice a day)
Hypoactive desire 100 mg bid
In the section on Parkinson's Disease, it says"Amantadine increases the intrasynaptic availability of dopamine by enhancing its release from otherwise depleted dopaminergic neurons and is thought to inhibit dopamine reuptake as well. Amantadine has a relatively strong anticholingeric effect (although milder than that of the other anticholinergics), making it unique among the dopaminergic antiparkinsonism drugs. Unlike levodopa, amantadine can be used to treat drug-induced parkinsonism, no doubt related to its anticholinergic properties....Amantadine has a unique role among the anticholinergic antiparkinsonism drugs in the treatment of sexual disorders induced by neuroleptics and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)."
So how anticholinergic is it? I don't know, but I think the statement by your doctor is a bunch of you know what in that the anticholinergic effects are minor compared to those of Nardil. I take 90 mg/day of Nardil myself, and I've also taken three tricyclics with anticholinergic effects varying from moderate to severe, and my opinion is that the anticholinergic effects of Nardil are relatively minor in absolute terms, perhaps moderate at the very worst. I'm guessing amantadine is at least as anticholinergic as Nardil, but it's not a drug I have actually tried; although, it does sound interesting.Todd
Posted by Questionmark on May 29, 2004, at 1:54:47
In reply to Re: Amantadine w/ Nardil, posted by King Vultan on May 25, 2004, at 17:27:57
This is the end of the thread.
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