Comparative Pharmacology
Head-to-head clinical analysis: AMANTADINE versus FAMCICLOVIR.
Peer-Reviewed Evidence
Head-to-head clinical analysis: AMANTADINE versus FAMCICLOVIR.
AMANTADINE vs FAMCICLOVIR
Comparing the clinical profiles, pharmacokinetic behaviors, and safety indices of these two therapeutic agents.
Amantadine is an antiviral and antiparkinsonian agent. Its antiviral mechanism involves inhibition of viral uncoating, thereby blocking influenza A M2 ion channel. In Parkinson's disease, it is thought to increase dopamine release and inhibit its reuptake, and may also have anticholinergic and NMDA receptor antagonist effects.
Famciclovir is a prodrug of penciclovir, which inhibits viral DNA polymerase by competing with deoxyguanosine triphosphate, thus inhibiting viral DNA replication. It has activity against herpes simplex virus (HSV-1, HSV-2), varicella-zoster virus (VZV), and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV).
100 mg orally twice daily for Parkinson's disease; 100 mg orally twice daily for influenza A prophylaxis/treatment (up to 200 mg/day).
500 mg orally three times daily for 7 days for herpes zoster; 125 mg twice daily for 5 days for recurrent genital herpes; 250 mg three times daily for 7 days for first-episode genital herpes; 500 mg twice daily for 7 days for recurrent herpes labialis.
None Documented
None Documented
Clinical Note
moderateAmantadine + Haloperidol
"The therapeutic efficacy of Haloperidol can be decreased when used in combination with Amantadine."
Clinical Note
moderateFamciclovir + Sulfisoxazole
"The metabolism of Sulfisoxazole can be decreased when combined with Famciclovir."
Clinical Note
moderateFamciclovir + Erythromycin
"The metabolism of Erythromycin can be decreased when combined with Famciclovir."
Clinical Note
moderateFamciclovir + Cyclosporine
Terminal elimination half-life: 10-14 hours in young adults, up to 24 hours in elderly; prolonged to >24 hours in renal impairment
Terminal half-life of penciclovir is 2-3 hours in healthy adults, prolonged to 3-6 hours in hepatic impairment and >20 hours in severe renal impairment (CrCl <30 mL/min), requiring dose adjustment.
Renal: 90% as unchanged drug via glomerular filtration and tubular secretion; fecal: <10%
Renal elimination: ~60% as penciclovir (active metabolite) and <10% as unchanged famciclovir; biliary/fecal: <5%; the remainder is metabolized to inactive compounds.
Category C
Category A/B
Antiviral / Antiparkinsonian
Antiviral
"The metabolism of Cyclosporine can be decreased when combined with Famciclovir."