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Rimantadine

 
Drug Info: Rimantadine

Brand names: Flumadine®

Chemical formula:



Rimantadine Hydrochloride Oral tablet

What is this medicine?

RIMANTADINE (ri MAN ta deen) is an antiviral medicine. It is used to prevent and treat a specific type of flu called influenza A. It will not work for colds, other types of flu, or other viral infections.
 
This medicine may be used for other purposes; ask your health care provider or pharmacist if you have questions.

What should I tell my health care provider before I take this medicine?

They need to know if you have any of these conditions:
•kidney disease
•liver disease
•seizures
•taken or scheduled to take intranasal flu vaccine within 2 weeks
•an unusual or allergic reaction to rimantadine, amantadine, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives
•pregnant or trying to get pregnant
•breast-feeding

How should I use this medicine?

Take this medicine by mouth with a glass of water. Follow the directions on the prescription label. Take your medicine at regular intervals. Do not take your medicine more often than directed. Take all of your medicine as directed even if you think your are better. Do not skip doses or stop your medicine early.

Talk to your pediatrician regarding the use of this medicine in children. While this drug may be prescribed for children as young as 1 year old for selected conditions, precautions do apply.

Overdosage: If you think you have taken too much of this medicine contact a poison control center or emergency room at once.
NOTE: This medicine is only for you. Do not share this medicine with others.

What may interact with this medicine?

•acetaminophen
•aspirin
•cimetidine
•intranasal flu vaccine

This list may not describe all possible interactions. Give your health care provider a list of all the medicines, herbs, non-prescription drugs, or dietary supplements you use. Also tell them if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs. Some items may interact with your medicine.

What should I watch for while using this medicine?

Tell your doctor or healthcare professional if your symptoms do not start to get better or if they get worse.

You may get drowsy or dizzy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that needs mental alertness until you know how this medicine affects you. Do not stand or sit up quickly, especially if you are an older patient. This reduces the risk of dizzy or fainting spells.

What side effects may I notice from receiving this medicine?

Side effects that you should report to your doctor or health care professional as soon as possible:
•allergic reactions like skin rash, itching or hives, swelling of the face, lips, or tongue
•breathing difficulties
•chest pain or palpitations
•dizziness or fainting
•swelling of the legs or ankles
•seizures
•unusually weak or tired

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your doctor or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):
•difficulty sleeping
•dizziness
•dry mouth
•headache
•loss of appetite
•nausea, vomiting
•stomach pain

This list may not describe all possible side effects. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Where should I keep my medicine?

Keep out of the reach of children.

Store at room temperature between 15 degrees and 30 degrees C (59 degrees and 86 degrees F). Throw away any unused medicine after the expiration date.

Last updated: 7/1/2002

Important Disclaimer: The drug information provided here is for educational purposes only. It is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the diagnosis, treatment and advice of a medical professional. This drug information does not cover all possible uses, precautions, side effects and interactions. It should not be construed to indicate that this or any drug is safe for you. Consult your medical professional for guidance before using any prescription or over the counter drugs.

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Veterinary Dictionary: rimantadine
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A synthetic antiviral agent with activity against RNA viruses.

Wikipedia: Rimantadine
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1 : 1 mixture (racemate)
Rimantadine
Systematic (IUPAC) name
(RS)-1-(1-adamantyl)ethanamine
Identifiers
CAS number 13392-28-4
ATC code J05AC02
PubChem 5071
DrugBank APRD01219
Chemical data
Formula C12H21N 
Mol. mass 179.302 g/mol
SMILES eMolecules & PubChem
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailability well absorbed
Protein binding 40%
Metabolism Hepatic hydroxylation and glucuronidation
Half life 25.4 ± 6.3 hours
Excretion Renal
Therapeutic considerations
Pregnancy cat.

C (U.S.)

Legal status

℞-only (U.S.)

Routes Oral
 Yes check.svgY(what is this?)  (verify)

Rimantadine (INN, sold under the trade name Flumadine) is an orally administered antiviral drug[1] used to treat, and in rare cases prevent, influenzavirus A infection. When taken within one to two days of developing symptoms, rimantadine can shorten the duration and moderate the severity of influenza. Both rimantadine and the similar drug amantadine are derivates of adamantane. Rimantadine was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1994.

According to the CDC, 100% of seasonal H3N2 and 2009 pandemic flu samples tested have shown resistance to rimantadine and it is no longer recommended to prescribe for treatment of the flu.

Contents

Clinical usage

Rimantadine is believed to inhibit influenza's viral replication, possibly by preventing the uncoating of the virus's protective shells, which are the envelope and capsid. Genetic studies suggest that the virus M2 protein, an ion channel specified by virion M2 gene, plays an important role in the susceptibility of influenza A virus to inhibition by rimantadine. Resistance to rimantadine can occur as a result of an amino acid substitutions at certain locations in the transmembrane region of M2. This prevents binding of the antiviral to the channel.[2]

Rimantadine, like its antiviral cousin amantadine, possesses some NMDA antagonistic properties and is used as an antiparkinsonic drug (i.e., in the treatment of Parkinson's disease). However, neither rimantadine nor amantadine are preferred agents for this therapy and are generally reserved for cases of the disease which are less responsive to front-line treatments.

Drug interactions

Taking paracetamol (acetaminophen e.g. Tylenol) or acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) while taking rimantadine is known to reduce the body's uptake of rimantadine by approximately 12%.[3] Cimetidine also affects the body's uptake of rimantadine.

Possible Side effects

Rimantadine can produce gastrointestinal and central nervous system adverse effects. Approximately 6% of patients (compared to 6% of patients taking a placebo) reported side effects.[4] Common side effects include:

  • nausea
  • upset stomach
  • nervousness
  • tiredness
  • lightheadedness
  • trouble sleeping
  • difficulty concentrating

References

External links


 
 
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Copyrights:

Drug Info. Gold Standard. Copyright © 2008 by Gold Standard. All rights reserved.  Read more
Veterinary Dictionary. Saunders Comprehensive Veterinary Dictionary 3rd Edition. Copyright © 2007 by D.C. Blood, V.P. Studdert and C.C. Gay, Elsevier. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Rimantadine" Read more