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Amantadine contributes to pain relief in dogs and cats by reducing the development of sensitisation to pain in the central nervous system (e.g. brain and spinal cord).
Why use Amantadine?
Pain can develop due to ‘over-amplification’ of the signals by the nervous system, termed ‘central sensitisation’. Central sensitization is a major component in the development of chronic and neuropathic pain; both of these can be very difficult to treat.
There are several drugs which are used to treat neuropathic pain, but the choice may vary depending on the origin of the pain. The first-choice drug for known nerve damage should be a gabapentinoid (such as gabapentin or pregabalin). This group of drugs is not effective for osteoarthritis pain so the first choice for progressive osteoarthritis pain that in dogs that are otherwise well managed should be amantadine.
Which patients should receive Amantadine?
Amantadine should be considered as part of the initial multimodal therapy for any patient that has moderate to severe chronic pain and as an add-on drug for patients that have worsening chronic pain despite presumably adequate pain control and no worsening of the inciting disease. The first-choice drug treatment for dogs and cats with chronic osteoarthritis pain is usually a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). Therapy with an NSAID alone may become ineffective in more advanced osteoarthritis.
What is the dosage for Amantadine?
Because of its mechanism of action, amantadine should be used as part of a multimodal protocol with other pain killers (typically NSAIDs). There is no published clinical evidence of its effectiveness in dogs when used alone. However, in some cases, dogs are intolerant of NSAIDs and amantadine is used alone in these individuals.
The dosage for dogs and cats is 3 to 5 mg/kg orally once to twice daily, with twice daily being preferable. Data from recent studies indicate that twice daily dosing is probably more effective in dogs and cats. To decrease the central sensitization component of chronic pain, treatment duration probably needs to be long; thus, the current minimum recommended duration is 21 days. Long duration therapy may be necessary, and many patients may need amantadine for life.
What are the adverse effects of Amantadine?
Adverse effects or drug interactions in dogs or cats receiving amantadine are uncommon. It is reported that some dogs may develop agitation, vomiting, flatulence, or diarrhoea (which may be watery), particularly in the early days of amantadine therapy. Amantadine can be stopped without a withdrawal period. We recommend blood testing every 6 months when receiving this drug because changes in organ function can affect how well the drug is tolerated
Prescription medicine: This is a prescription medicine. Please ensure that you have read the "How to Order" page before ordering this item. Australian legislation prohibits the advertisement of prescription drugs to consumers, therefore we are unable to display any images of the packaging or provide you with more information regarding this prescription medicine.
Our compounded medicines: All compounded medicines on the Discount Pet Med site are purchased through Compounding Specialists the same as those used by your Vet. They use an industry leading team of pharmacists, compounding and dispensing technicians and customer care specialists whose job is to assure your pets receive the exact preparations the vet prescribes.
Product images: Australian legislation prohibits the advertisement of prescription drugs to consumers, therefore we are unable to display any images of the packaging or provide you with more information regarding this prescription medicine.
Please call or email us if you have any queries about any of the products on our site.
How much does shipping cost?
Your delivery cost starts from $6.95. This depends on the weight of your order, delivery address and delivery method (express vs standard). The shipping cost calculator will display the total cost for delivery at the checkout. We use live quote system powered by Australia Post; this guarantees you pay the lowest shipping fee.
How do I qualify for Free Delivery?
Discount Pet Meds offers Free Standard Shipping on orders over $149 Australia wide for parcels up to 500g. Orders over $149 and over 500g will receive a discount of $6.95 on total shipping cost which will is automatically applied during checkout.
Which shipping should I select?
Discount Pet Meds uses Australia Post as their courier partner, with two shipping options to select from at checkout:
Express Post the fastest choice
Standard Post the most economical (normally 2 days behind express post)
Please note: Australia Post has a weight limit of 22kg per parcel. If your order weighs over 22Kgs we recommend placing multiple orders or contact us to arrange for a courier
How long will it take to process my order?
Discount Pet Meds guarantee same day dispatch if your order is in-stock and has been placed before 11am weekday. In- stock items ordered after 11am, will be dispatched next business day.
Compounding Meds: Please allow extra 2 business days (eye drops: 5 business days)
How long will it take to receive my parcel?
In addition to processing and dispatch time at the warehouse (24-48 hrs), Delivery time will depend on where you are, in relation to our warehouse as we are based in Carlingford, Sydney, NSW.
The following are estimated delivery times once your order has been fulfilled and left our warehouse. These are only estimates and are dependent on mail services in your area.
Standard Post
Local/Sydney area: 1-2 business days
New South Wales: 2-3 business days
Brisbane: 2-3 business days
Melbourne: 2-3 business days
Adelaide: 3-5 business days
Perth: 3-5 business days
Queensland: 3-7 business days
Victoria: 3-7 business days
South Australia: 5-10 business days
Tasmania: 5-10 business days
Western Australia: 5-10 business days
Northern Territory: 5-10 business days
Express Post
Sydney area: next day delivery
Other Metro areas and Major cities: 1-3 business days
Rural areas: please allow up to 5 business days.
Do I need to stay home to receive my parcel?
All parcels will be delivered to the provided address and will require a signature on receipt, It is recommended to provide a work address for delivery if no one is home during business hours. If no one home, a card will be left detailing the nearest Australia Post outlet where the parcel can be collected during normal business hours.
Authority to Leave (ATL): Although we do not recommend leaving orders unattended when not home to accept delivery, you may request this service with any delivery. You may do this by placing a brief note, such as Please leave order if not home', in the order comments section found on our checkout page.
Australia Post (Safe Drop): Tracking notifications now provide you the possibility of Safe Drop where the order will be left in the Safe Drop location specified unless, in the judgement of the carrier, it is exposed to passers-by or the weather, in which the parcel will be carded for a Post Office collection
What if my order got delayed, lost, stolen or damaged?
Shipping insurance will allow you to be compensated in case of lost, damaged, or delayed delivery. If shipping insurance is not chosen, we will not be able to offer any further assistance if your order is lost or subsequently goes missing after it has been deemed delivered by the carrier. The associated risk in leaving parcels unattended is borne by the customer.
Refrigerated items: when you purchace a cold chain product, you accept the rare chance that goods will not be delivered in an ideal condition and that no compensation will be offered to replace spoilt goods, even if insurance cover is chosen.
How do you ship refrigerated items?
Fridge items are sent out Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday only, by Express Post in foam eskies containing ice Blocks, to ensure items remain cold on delivery. Please refer to the below link to see if you are within the Australia Post Express Network:
How do I track my order?
With email and SMS tracking notifications, you will get peace of mind to track and choose delivery options. You will be given a tracking number and the date your parcel is expected to be delivered, as well as the chance to choose how and where you like to receive it.
What if I want to Pick up my order?
Pick up is available from our store. Please select “Pickup option" at the checkout. We will contact you once your order has been assembled and is ready for collection.
Pick up address: 4/500 North Rocks Road Carlingford, Sydney NSW, 2118.
Can I refund medication after collection?
We can dispose your unwanted medication, but we can’t refund it. Once a prescription item leaves our pharmacy, by law they cannot be resold. As such, refunds are not possible.
