Amantadine & Skin Cancer

My dr. recently prescribed me Amantadine 100 mg 1 capsule everyday in the morning.  It was prescribed for fatigue.  I'm weary of taking it because on one of the fliers it said, causes skin cancer to people with Parkinson's Disease.  Hmm.  I have MS... recently diagnosed in October, not Parkinson's.  This warning label just freaked me out.  

This is what the flier says,
"People with Parkinson's disease may have an increased risk for developing skin cancer (melanoma).  If you are taking this drug to treat Parkinson's disease, tell your dr. promptly if you notice a change in the appearance or size of moles or other unusual skin changes.  Ask your dr. if you should have regular skin exams."

I teach kindergarten with 26 kids.  I come home to my husband and almost 3 year old and an almost 5 year old.  I am soooo tired during the day.  When my dr. told me I had to give up the caffeine because apparently I drink too much, I told her I need a replacement if I can't have my caffeine, I won't make it through the day. I'm tired and worn out by 1:00, but need to keep going.  

I don't even want to start taking a drug if it is going to cause skin cancer, I just assume stay with my caffeine.  I know after an hour or so... the energy from the caffeine is gone, but... I need it.  

What would you do?  

Thanks,
Leah

[Wobbly]

Hi there. I also take Amantadine in the AM for fatigue.. it helps.  I never noticed a warning for this and wonder how high of a dosage they mean when they talk about this warning??  does it say?

I think Parkinson take more amounts, but I'm not sure... hope we find out more info.

thanks for the update on this
wobbly
dx

[Billie_Jo]

Hi Leah,

I'm new here and certainly no expert so this is just a thought but,  I took Selegeline HCI for depression and cognitive problems.

It is mainly prescribed in small doses for parkinson's patients and it carries a similar warning that as I understand it says, ......

People with degenerative nerve disease such as parkinsons carry a higher risk of developing malignant melanomas.   It is not known if this is caused from medications that are commonly prescribed for parkinsons that raise dopamine levels such as Levadopa or if it is caused from the disease itself.  

Therefore,  all medications that are commonly precsribed for parkinsons patients cary a warning to tell your doctor of any unusual skin changes.

Then when you read further you see that only 1 percent of parkinsons patients ever develop skin cancer.  

So it seem to me this is just another one of those COVER THEIR OWN BUTTS WARNINGS that typically comes with priscription (prescription) meds .

And it only makes sense to see you doctor about any unusual skin changes.

I don't know if this helps or not but if it really does help with the fatigue,  I would try it.

Best wishes,
BillieJo

[lmeiser45]

When I looked the meds up online, it didn't say skin cancer, it just said look for spots on your skin.  I got my prescription filled at Costco, it was a separate flier attached, saying Patient Advisory Leaflet: Consultation.  It was specifically for 100 mg/day.  A cousin of mine who is in Pharmacy said this is a good medicine. He is graduating from WSU and one of his jobs is going around at hospitals making sure dr's are prescribing the correct amount of meds/etc. for patients they have. He told me it was safe, but I am still reluctant. Anything that says slight chance of whatever... so far I haven't had good luck with.  

I had the Mirena Birth Control put in, then had to have Laproscopic surgery to have it removed. It cut a hole in my uterine wall and was floating in my stomach.  That is supposedly an EXTREMELY low risk of happening.  It happened to me!

Only a low percentage of people get Post-Injection reactions from Copaxone.  I've had 3 in less than a 3 week period.  All different, but FREAKED me out.  

If I take this med. I'm terrified of something else happening, let alone cancer.  My luck has not been great.  

Does it only cause Cancer in Parkinson's patients, or MS patients too.  I'm only MS, so I really don't know.