Amantadine to Speed Awakening After Cardiac Arrest

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