Amantadine to Speed Awakening After Cardiac Arrest

Amantadine to Speed Awakening After Cardiac Arrest

This study evaluates if amantadine will increase the rate of awakening in patients resuscitated from cardiac arrest but comatose (not following commands) after their resuscitation. Half of the participants will receive amantadine and the other will receive placebo.

Amantadine has been used to help patients awaken following traumatic brain injury, but it has not been studied in patients with anoxic brain injury.

Amantadine is a dopamine agonist and may help with stimulating the brain to awaken. The investigators will randomize subjects who remain comatose 72 hours following resuscitation from cardiac arrest to either amantadine or placebo. They will be treated with either amantadine or placebo for 7 days.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Non traumatic cardiac arrest
• Age 18 and older
• Defibrillation and/or chest compressions by healthcare providers
• Return of spontaneous circulation

Exclusion Criteria:

• Written do not attempt resuscitation (DNAR) reported to providers before randomization
• Known prisoner or pregnancy
• Lack of motor response to pain and absent N20 response on somatosensory evoked potentials prior to randomization
• Initial CT demonstrating brain edema (defined as grey white ratio <1.2)
• Presence of malignant pattern on EEG at time of randomization
• Next of kin unwilling to provide supportive care for at least one week after enrollment
• Presently using other dopaminergic agent