Promoting Recovery After STroke With Amantadine

Inclusion criteria

• 18 to 85 years old, male and female
• Modified Rankin Score (mRS)<=2 prior to stroke
• Ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke as diagnosed by vascular neurologist or as proven on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or non-contrast head computed tomography NCHCT)
• 24 hours to 3 weeks after stroke onset or time last known well prior to detection of symptoms
• National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS)>=3 and NIHSS<=15
• Creatinine Clearance of greater than or equal to 60 mL/min using the Cockroft- Gault equation.
• Have passed a swallow evaluation prior to drug administration
• The patient is an acute rehabilitation candidate or candidate for the Homeward Stroke Program
• Able to participate in administered tests

Exclusion criteria

• Any degree of receptive aphasia
• Moderate or severe expressive aphasia
• Currently pregnant or plans to get pregnant
• Currently breastfeeding
• Any patient admitted with primary SubarachnoidH emorrhage (SAH )on either non-contrast head CT or MRI brain
• Diagnosis of dementia or mild cognitive impairment prior to index stroke
• Prior limb amputation
• Currently prescribed or taking a primary anticholinergic medication
• Currently enrolled in any other investigational pharmacologic or procedural clinical trial
• Malignancy with active treatment
• History of prior stroke with residual impairment
• Current or prior neuroleptic use
• History of suicidality or psychosis (The Columbia Suicide Severity Ratings Scale (C-SSRS) will be administered at the screening visit to assess depression and suicidal thoughts for subject eligibility. Any subjects who indicate severe depression or suicidal thoughts and/or attempts within the last year will not be eligible)
• Prior history of seizures
• Prior treatment with amantadine
• Parkinson's disease
• Amantadine allergy
• Elevated liver function tests (aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase above the upper limit of normal) -