Which species have cited Amantadine dosing data?

Amantadine dosing in the ExoticRx formulary covers 4 species: Amazon Parrot, Cat (Domestic), Dog (Domestic), Ferret.

Is Amantadine a controlled substance?

Amantadine is not federally scheduled in the US. Controlled-drug status differs by country — verify your local rules.

Amantadine

US brand names:Symmetrel

Sourced from published veterinary references. Awaiting credentialed clinical reviewer — our editorial process.

Amantadine is dosed at 3–5 mg/kg PO not stated in this row in ferrets, per Hedley J. Small Animal Formulary-Part B: Exotic Pets, 10th ed., British Small Animal Veterinary Association, Gloucester, UK; 2020. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.943 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 11.6 (Analgesic Agents Used in Ferrets). Verify against current literature before clinical use.

Drug Class

Neurological

Routes

Indications

Adjunctive analgesia (NMDA antagonist)Chronic pain (adjunctive)Chronic pain (NMDA antagonist adjunct)

Mechanism of Action

NMDA receptor antagonist that reduces central sensitization (wind-up pain). Also has dopaminergic and antiviral activity. Used for chronic/neuropathic pain.

Side effects & warnings

Adjunctive analgesic for chronic pain (combine with NSAIDs or gabapentin). CNS excitation at high doses. Renal elimination — adjust in renal disease. GI upset.

Evidence levels across 4 dose rules

Moderate×2Weak×2

Each ExoticRx dose rule is graded by the strength of its primary evidence — see the editorial process.

Sample dosing (2 of 4 cited rules)

A dog/cat sample is shown here. Cited dosing for all 4 species — reptiles, birds, pocket pets, livestock, and equine — is free on the per-species pages above. Pro adds the weight-based calculator for every species.

Species	Route	Dose	Frequency	Evidence	Source
Dog (Domestic)	PO	3–5 mg/kg	q24h	Moderate	Madden M, Gurney M, Bright S. Amantadine, an N-Methyl-D-Aspartate antagonist, for treatment of chronic neuropathic pain in a dog. Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia. 2014;41:440-441. doi:10.1111/vaa.12141; Lascelles BDX, Gaynor JS, Smith ES, et al. Amantadine in a multimodal analgesic regimen for alleviation of refractory osteoarthritis pain in dogs. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine. 2008;22:53-59. doi:10.1111/j.1939-1676.2007.0014.x — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.45, Amantadine monograph spanning p.45-46.
Cat (Domestic)	PO	3–5 mg/kg	q24h	Weak

Backed by 3 published sourcesShow

· 86. Berg KJ, Guzman DS.M, Knych HK, et al. Pharmacokinetics of amantadine after oral administration of single and multiple doses to orange-winged Amazon parrots (Amazona amazonica). Am J Vet Res. 2020;81(8):651-655. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.489 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.18 (Miscellaneous Agents Used in Birds).
· Hedley J. Small Animal Formulary-Part B: Exotic Pets, 10th ed., British Small Animal Veterinary Association, Gloucester, UK; 2020. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.943 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 11.6 (Analgesic Agents Used in Ferrets).
· Madden M, Gurney M, Bright S. Amantadine, an N-Methyl-D-Aspartate antagonist, for treatment of chronic neuropathic pain in a dog. Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia. 2014;41:440-441. doi:10.1111/vaa.12141; Lascelles BDX, Gaynor JS, Smith ES, et al. Amantadine in a multimodal analgesic regimen for alleviation of refractory osteoarthritis pain in dogs. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine. 2008;22:53-59. — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.45, Amantadine monograph spanning p.45-46.

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Madden M, Gurney M, Bright S. Amantadine, an N-Methyl-D-Aspartate antagonist, for treatment of chronic neuropathic pain in a dog. Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia. 2014;41:440-441. doi:10.1111/vaa.12141; Lascelles BDX, Gaynor JS, Smith ES, et al. Amantadine in a multimodal analgesic regimen for alleviation of refractory osteoarthritis pain in dogs. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine. 2008;22:53-59. doi:10.1111/j.1939-1676.2007.0014.x — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.45, Amantadine monograph spanning p.45-46.