What is Adamantane?
Adamantane, also known as adamantyl or hexamethylene-tetramine, is an antiviral medication primarily used for the treatment and prophylaxis of infections caused by influenza A virus. It works by inhibiting the replication of the virus within the host cells, thereby reducing the severity and duration of symptoms.
What is Adamantane used for?
Adamantane, also known as trimethyladamantane or hexamethylenetetramine, is an adamantane derivative used as an antiviral agent for the treatment and prevention of influenza A. The drug was first synthesized in the 1930s and gained attention during the early years of the COVID-19 pandemic for its potential use against coronavirus, although it has not been FDA-approved for this purpose.
Adamantane works by inhibiting viral replication, specifically targeting the influenza A virus. It achieves this through its adamantane structure, which disrupts the lipid membranes of the virus, ultimately interfering with the replication process. The drug was initially marketed under the brand name Amantadine in some countries but has since been less frequently prescribed due to concerns regarding resistance and decreased efficacy against certain strains of influenza A. Adamantane may also have central nervous system (CNS) effects, including sedation, as a result of its mechanism of action, which can impact patients with pre-existing CNS disorders.
When used as directed for the prevention and treatment of influenza A, adamantane typically comes in oral tablet or syrup form and should be taken according to specific dosing guidelines. However, due to concerns regarding viral resistance and the availability of more effective antiviral medications like oseltamivir and zanamivir, the use of adamantane has become less common, especially outside of specific therapeutic situations and high-risk patient populations.
Adamantane side effects
Common possible side effects: None reported. Rare possible side effects: Blood in stool Hives Itching Liver function abnormalities Skin rash or itching
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