Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Has anyone experienced dogs having hallucinations while on amantadine? Side effects in humans include hallucinations with a warning that the med may have other mental side effects.
Mary
Hi Mary,
I moved this over to "Ask a Vet" so that our Fairy Vet Mother Dr. Wiltzius can see it. I haven't specifically heard of this problem in dogs, is it something your own pup is experiencing?
Here is a description of Amantadine's use and side effects in dogs.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thanks Jerry for moving the post to a more appropriate place.
Blaze has anxiety and been on Prozac for several years. And now on 4 pain meds, rimadyl, tramadol, gabapentin and amantadine. Prozac and tramodol are not the best combo. Something about a toxic effect when combining the two. I attempted to reduce the Prozac to avoid this but Blaze developed anxiety induced lick granulomas which disappeared when we went back to his normal dose of Prozac. He also snapped a a family member on the lower dose. At that point we added gabapentin.
This cocktail worked for a while until the leision in his leg expanded. Blaze became very restless in the evening, pacing and panting, finding it difficult to settle down. The onc added amantadine. The first dose worked like a charm! I was able to reduce the tramodol and still keep Blaze comfortable.
The surgeon was surprised when I reported after a week on amantadine that all was well. He said many dogs become very anxious and don't do well. I think I spoke too soon. Last night after about 10 days on amantadine I gave Blaze his nightly food stuffed kong. Because Blaze is a food guarded we are careful to let him be and ignore him while he has the kong. This is one of the reasons he went to Dodman's clinic years ago. I placed the kong on his dog bed and Blaze laid down to work on the kong. He began growling and snarling as though someone was taking the kong from him. No one was near him! He began attacking the kong, growling as though he was attacking a hand taking the kong from him. I walked out of the room and Blaze followed me to the kitchen, snarling and growling. I tried to get him outside, but I went out instead planning to come back in the house through another door. Blaze finally laid down in the kitchen and fell asleep never eating the kong.
In humans amantadine has known side effects of hallucinations and dizziness with a cautionary note when used in people with know mental conditions. Blaze appeared to be hallucinating. I have taken him off the med to see if there is a change back to his customary grumpy behavior. It was an unsettling situation.
wondering if others have experience with this.
mary
Mary, be sure to log in when visiting the forums and your posts will not require moderation.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I have used amantadine on my own dogs without issue but neither one of those dogs were anxious by nature. I have noted many more reactions with tramadol especially if combined with a drug like Prozac. However, if your dog was doing fine until you added the amantadine then it is possible that the combo of drugs is not right for your dog.
Pam
Pam just to see if the amantadine was the culprit I took Blaze off the medication. It's been two days now and he has more personality back, a friendly personality, he doesn't have this dark shark like look in his eyes. He is uncomfortable, preferring to stay outside in the cold. His method of icing the leg I guess. Perhaps a lower dose of amantadine might help? But at this point the image of Blaze loosing his cool is not something I want to see again.
The 23rd can't get here quick enough!
Mary
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