Amantadine: An Oral Pain Relief Option for Dogs and Cats!

Managing chronic pain in dogs and cats can be challenging, especially when dealing with conditions like osteoarthritis (OA) or degenerative lumbosacral disease (DLSS). While traditional medications such as NSAIDs remain first-line (for dogs), additional therapies are often needed to provide better comfort and quality of life. One medication that has gained attention in recent years is amantadine.

What Is Amantadine?

Amantadine is an oral NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) receptor antagonist. Unlike NSAIDs, which target inflammation, amantadine works by reducing central sensitization, the abnormal amplification of pain signals in the spinal cord and brain. This makes it especially valuable in chronic or neuropathic pain states, where standard anti-inflammatories may not be enough.

Evidence for Amantadine in Dogs

1. Chronic Osteoarthritis Pain

A study by Lascelles et al. (2008, J Vet Intern Med) investigated amantadine in dogs with chronic OA pain. Dogs received either meloxicam alone or meloxicam plus amantadine. Results showed:

• The amantadine + meloxicam group had significantly greater improvements in owner-reported pain and mobility.
• Dogs were more active and had improved quality of life, demonstrating that amantadine is most effective when used as an add-on to NSAIDs rather than a stand-alone drug.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18289289/

2. Degenerative Lumbosacral Disease (DLSS)

Caterino et al looked at amantadine in dogs with DLSS. Findings included:

• Objective improvements in gait using force-plate analysis in both the amantadine and amantadine + meloxicam groups.
• Clinical improvements in mobility and comfort, reinforcing amantadine’s role in neuropathic spinal pain.
• These results support its use in multimodal pain management for complex back problems like DLSS.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12265245/

3. Pharmacokinetics and Safety

Norkus et al conducted a pharmacokinetic and safety evaluation of amantadine in healthy dogs. Key points:

• Oral dosing resulted in predictable absorption and plasma concentrations suitable for once or twice daily treatment.
• The drug was well tolerated, with minimal adverse effects reported at clinically relevant doses.
• This study gave veterinarians confidence in prescribing amantadine long-term as part of chronic pain management.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25427541/

Evidence for Amantadine use in cats

In arthritic cats, Shipley et al (https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1098612X20967639) showed improvement in owner outcomes for cats battling arthritis, although some cats were less active on amantadine compared to placebo. Guedes et al (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10886337/) showed evidence for use of amantadine in cats going through a spay procedure.

Together, these studies show that amantadine is both safe and effective when used properly.

How I Use Amantadine in Practice

• As an adjunct therapy for dogs: Most effective when combined with NSAIDs for OA or DLSS.
• As a primary option for cats with OA pain, or neuropathic pain
• Dosing at 3-5mg/kg every twelve hours, for a 6 week trial and potentially lifelong
• For chronic pain states: Particularly helpful when “wind-up pain” (central sensitization) is suspected.
• Multimodal approach: Often paired with rehabilitation therapy, gabapentin or pregabalin, or other pain-modulating strategies.

Final Thoughts

Amantadine is not a cure-all, but it fills an important gap in veterinary pain management.

For many pets amantadine can make the difference between struggling with chronic discomfort and living with comfort and mobility.