Amantadine for treatment of fatigue in Guillain-Barre syndrome: a randomised, double blind, placebo controlled, crossover trial

J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2006 Jan;77(1):61-5. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.2004.046227.

Abstract

Objective: Fatigue is a major complaint in patients with immune mediated polyneuropathies. Despite apparently good physical recovery after Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), many patients remain restricted in daily and social activities, and have a decreased quality of life. In this trial, the effect of amantadine on severe fatigue related to GBS was studied.

Methods: During the pre-treatment phase, all patients were monitored for 2 weeks. Only patients with severe fatigue, defined as a mean fatigue score of > or = 5.0 on the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), were randomised for this double blind, placebo controlled, crossover study. Primary outcome measure was improvement of at least 1 point on the FSS. Secondary outcome measures were impact of fatigue, anxiety and depression, handicap, and quality of life.

Results: In total, 80 patients with GBS were randomised, of whom 74 were included for analysis. Fatigue appeared to be reduced already during the pre-treatment phase (p = 0.05), probably due to increased attention provided to the patients. No significant differences in any of the primary and secondary outcome measures were found.

Conclusions: Amantadine was not superior to placebo. Because fatigue remains a serious complaint, other studies evaluating new treatment options are strongly recommended.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Amantadine / adverse effects
  • Amantadine / therapeutic use*
  • Antiviral Agents / adverse effects
  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Anxiety / diagnosis
  • Anxiety / epidemiology
  • Anxiety / etiology
  • Cross-Over Studies
  • Depression / diagnosis
  • Depression / epidemiology
  • Depression / etiology
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Fatigue / drug therapy*
  • Fatigue / epidemiology
  • Fatigue / etiology*
  • Female
  • Guillain-Barre Syndrome / complications
  • Guillain-Barre Syndrome / psychology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Quality of Life / psychology

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Amantadine