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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 > > ***************************************************************** > * Roger Buxton & Judy Hazlett Tel: +1 905 477-0335 * > * 34 Foxglove Court Fax: +1 905 477-0335 * > * Unionville, Ontario e-mail: [log in to unmask] * > * L3R 3Y3 * > * Canada * > ***************************************************************** -- ****************************************************************************************** Charles T. Meyer, M.D. Middleton (Madison), Wisconsin [log in to unmask] ******************************************************************************************