Department of Neuroscience, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
The acute antidyskinetic effects of IV amantadine in HD were evaluated. A 2-hour IV infusion of amantadine or placebo was administered to nine patients with HD on two different days in a double-blind, randomized crossover fashion. All patients subsequently received oral amantadine unblinded for a 1-year period. A reduction of dyskinesia scores was reported during both IV and oral amantadine treatment (p < 0.05). No significant changes were observed in neuropsychological tests or psychiatric rating scales.