Amantadine Can be Used as a Drug for SARS-Cov-2 Treatment?

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection, the pandemics, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has any known effective radical pharmacotherapy, just supportive approach at present. Amantadine is a drug used in Parkinson’s disease and other parkinsonisms; and is known to increase indirectly dopamine by antagonistic effects at the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor by increasing the release and blocking the reuptake of dopamine. Initially, amantadine was approved as an antiviral drug. We hypothesize that if amantadine considered both antiviral, immunological and neurostimulant effects might be useful in the supportive treatment of SARS-CoV-2 cases, especially those who developed acute respiratory failure with decreased vigilance and monitored in the intensive care unit. Further phase III clinical trials are needed. ; Aside from its antiviral effect, Amantadine might have recovery affect on patients with SARS-CoV-2 related encephalopathy due to its vigilance-enhancing effect, especially with its intravenous form.