Amantadine in pediatric patients with traumatic brain injury: a retrospective, case-controlled study.

Publication/Presentation Date

12-1-2004

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine if amantadine use in pediatric patients with traumatic brain injury is well tolerated and to attempt to assess its effectiveness.

DESIGN: This was a retrospective, case-controlled study.

RESULTS: Of the 54 patients, aged 3-18 yrs, who were administered amantadine, five (9%) had side effects that might have been related to the drug. These included hallucinations, delusions, increased aggression, and nausea/vomiting. The side effects were reversed when the medication was stopped or the dosage decreased. Patients in the amantadine group had a greater increase in Ranchos Los Amigos level during their admission than those in the control group (median, 3 vs. 2; P < 0.01). This difference may be, at least in part, explained by the fact that the amantadine group started at a lower Ranchos Los Amigos level (median, 3 vs. 4; P < 0.01). There were subjective improvements noted in 29 of the 46 patients (63%) in the amantadine group whose full charts were available for review.

CONCLUSION: Amantadine is a well tolerated medication when it is used in pediatric patients with traumatic brain injury. Subjective improvements were noted in the majority of the patients administered amantadine, and the amantadine group showed a greater improvement in Ranchos Los Amigos level during admission, suggesting that it may be effective.

Volume

83

Issue

12

First Page

893

Last Page

897

ISSN

0894-9115

Disciplines

Medicine and Health Sciences | Pediatrics

PubMedID

15624567

Department(s)

Department of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics

Document Type

Article

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS