Amantadine as an Antiviral Agent in Influenza

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Abstract
Amantadine became the first antiviral agent available for systemic use in the United States when it was licensed by the Food and Drug Administration in 1966 for prophylaxis of Asian influenza (H2N2). In the first decade after its approval, the drug was not widely used for several reasons.1 The occurrence of side effects was worrisome. Furthermore, influenza does not have a specific clinical characteristic, such as paralysis or rash, and hence the disease required laboratory diagnosis, which was not readily available. Finally, with the major shift in strains that occurred with the appearance of influenza A/Hong . . .