Journal CME July 2024, Assessing the benefits and risks of amantadine for irritability and aggression after traumatic brain injury-PM R - 2023 - Hammond - Assessing the benefits and risks of amantadine for irritability and aggression after traumatic

PM R - 2023 - Hammond - Assessing the benefits and risks of amantadine for irritability and aggression after traumatic

Pdf Summary

The article discusses the benefits and risks of using amantadine to treat irritability and aggression in individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI). A secondary analysis of a multicenter trial showed that amantadine demonstrated modest benefits with low risk for harm compared to a placebo. Clinician ratings indicated a potential for improvement with minimal risk of adverse events. The study found that for every six patients treated with amantadine, one extra patient is expected to improve. The groups did not differ significantly in experiencing adverse events. Amantadine, a dopaminergic agent, was well-tolerated and did not lead to any significant safety concerns compared to the placebo group. The study highlighted the importance of balancing benefit and potential harm when considering pharmacological interventions, especially in the context of limited treatment options for managing TBI-related irritability and aggression. Overall, amantadine could be considered as a treatment option for individuals with TBI and irritability/aggression based on the study's findings. Further research and clinical studies are needed to refine treatment approaches in this population.

Keywords

amantadine

irritability

aggression

traumatic brain injury

TBI

pharmacological interventions

dopaminergic agent

clinical studies

adverse events

treatment options