Robert O. Peckinpaugh

FIELD STUDIES WITH AMANTADINE: ACCEPTABILITY AND PROTECTION

Amantadine hydrochloride (1-adamatanamine hydrochloride) is a synthetic organic amine compound reported to offer protection against influenza A2 infection.1-6 One action of the drug is to delay viral penetration of cells with subsequent inhibition of viral r e p l i ~ a t i o n . ~ Rimantadine (alpha-methyl1 -adamantanemethyl-amine hydrochloride) is a related compound with a similar mode of action and spectrum of virus inhibition.* Amantadine, when given before contact with the virus, has been shown to inhibit influenza virus infection in t issue cultures, mice and man. drugs, used in clinical studies in volunteers, have shown protection against experimental or natural influenza A2 i n f e ~ t i o n . ~ ~ When given at the t ime of pr after infection, amantadine has no protective effect.2* 9 Both