Hi,
Has anyone tried Amantadine to bust a cycle?

Thanks in advance

Hey Buhrly1,

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Amantadine for use both as an antiviral and an antiparkinsonian medication.  Subsequent studies found it ineffective in treating both conditions.  On top of that it has some onerous side effects.

Given it is not on the list of interventions recommended in the Standards of Care for the treatment of patients with CH and it has some bad side effects, I would not take it.

Download a copy of the anti-inflammatory regimen CH preventative treatment protocol from the following link.

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Take a copy to your PCP or neurologist to discuss and ask for a lab test of your serum 25(OH)D.  25(OH)D is the serum level metabolite of vitamin D3 that's used to measure its status.  Most CHers with active bouts of CH are vitamin D3 deficient. 

Data from a survey of 283 CHers taking this regimen with 10,000 IU/day vitamin D3 plus cofactors indicate 80% experience an 80% reduction in the frequency of their CH in the first 30 days (most within the first 10 days).  50% of CHers who start this regimen experience a complete cessation of CH symptoms in the first 30 days.  In the 8 years this regimen has been available, there have been no reports of adverse events requiring medical supervision and no cases of vitamin D3 intoxication/toxicity.

The following link will take you to VitaminDWiki where you can read more about this very safe and effective CH preventative treatment protocol. 

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Take care and please keep us posted.

V/R, Batch

Pubmed, which is a search engine for medical research papers doesn't find anything applicable to using amantadine for CH, however it does have it being used for migraine. So it could be a potential option however I'd try the more conventional, more proven options first.

What other options have you tried, at what dose and what were the results?\

Thanks for the replies.
I am on the D3 regiment currently and have been pain free for quite some time(years). From time to time I feel the twinge start and hit it with additional D3, prednisone and verapamil.

I was discussing this with a PA that is also a CH sufferer. He found that a one time use of the Amantadine could break the cycle.

Update: The twinge was still progressing so it went down the hatch. I'll keep you posted.

Woke up to a dull head ache. Felt better though. I am continuing to get the D3, Verapamil, and prednisone ramped up.
Merry Christmas!

Hey Buhrly1.

Prednisone tends to lessen the CH preventative effects of vitamin D3...  Don't forget the B complex, B2 in particular and good old Benadry (Diphenhydramine HCL) 25 mg 4 times a day for a week should do just fine.

Merry Christmas,

V/R, Batch

Hi Batch,
Ok, so I'm tapering off of the prednisone and have added the Benadryl. Going to be a sleepy week. 💤😆
I have B12 and B50. Just made the order for the B2.
Thanks for the input! 😄

Hey Buhrly1,

You've laid out a good course of action that should work just fine.  Don't forget diet.  If you start getting whacked, a 24 to 36 hour fast drinking only water and taking the anti-inflammatory regimen just might improve efficacy with a decrease or cessation of CH.

Take care and please keep us posted.  Feedback from cases like yours is important...  It's very likely there are a lot of other CHers in the same CH pain free boat as you with similar questions.

V/R, Batch