Roger,

I agree with you entirely.  While amantadine withdrawal may cause a
withdrawal  syndrome that for all intents and purposes is neuroleptic
malignant syndrome I think it is quite rare. That doesn't mean that it can't
happen but if my doctor suggests that I stop med a med "cold turkey" I would
ask him why and if he gave me a good reason e.g..  Toxicity etc. then I
wouldn't have any problem with doing it.  Just keep in mind the slim
possibility of NMS.

Charlie

Roger Buxton wrote:

> Judith, Joe, Murray:
>
> I have to report the other side of the coin, namely that abrupt
> cessation of amantadine does not necessarily lead to acute delirium.
>
> My PWP, Judy Hazlett (whom you, Judith, met at the PFC AGM in Quebec
> City last October) has been on amantadine since December 1996 (as well
> as sinemet & permax for much longer) and has on five occasions since
> then abruptly ceased taking it (as well as, again, the sinemet & permax)
> as part of the clinical evaluations relating to her participation in a
> transplant study. On no occasion was there any hint of delirium or of
> any of the other effects reported by Dr. Factor. On each occasion, she
> was with me continuously (during an all-day drive and a night in a
> hotel) when she ceased taking them, and she was hospitalized the next
> day for several days for the evaluations, so there was no chance of
> anyone having missed observing any of the symptoms, and she was in good
> care lest any problems had occurred.
>
> However, I admit I would have been pretty freaked out and unprepared if
> she had manifested any of the reported symptoms prior to hospitalization
> (though help was but a phonecall away), and I certainly agree that
> forewarned is forearmed. But five-zero is a pretty convincing score in
> favour of the absence of deleterious symptoms for this patient.
> Nevertheless, the info is appreciated, as we will be repeating this
> procedure every six months in the foreseeable future.
>
> Roger
>
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> *  Roger Buxton & Judy Hazlett  Tel: +1 905 477-0335            *
> *  34 Foxglove Court            Fax: +1 905 477-0335            *
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> *  L3R 3Y3                                                      *
> *  Canada                                                       *
> *****************************************************************

--
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Charles T. Meyer,  M.D.
Middleton (Madison), Wisconsin
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