Riluzole
Indications
Riluzole tablet is used for people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (a progressive neurological disorder). It helps extend life or the time before mechanical ventilation is needed.
⚠️ Always consult a registered physician before taking any medicine.
Pharmacology
The cause and development of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are not known, though several hypotheses have been put forward. One is that motor neurons, made vulnerable by genetic predisposition or environmental factors, are injured by glutamate. In some cases of familial ALS, the enzyme superoxide dismutase has been found to be defective. How Riluzole works is also not known. Its pharmacological properties include the following, and some of them may be related to its effect: it inhibits the release of glutamate, it inactivates voltage-dependent sodium channels, and it can interfere with intracellular events that follow transmitter binding at excitatory amino acid receptors. In a single study, Riluzole delayed median time to death in a transgenic mouse model of ALS. These mice express human superoxide dismutase carrying one of the mutations found in one of the familial forms of human ALS. It is also neuroprotective in various in vivo experimental models of neuronal injury involving excitotoxic mechanisms. In in vitro tests, riluzole protected cultured rat motor neurons from the excitotoxic effects of glutamic acid and prevented the death of cortical neurons induced by anoxia. Because it blocks glutamatergic neurotransmission, riluzole also shows myorelaxant and sedative properties in animal models at doses of 30 mg/kg (about 20 times the recommended human daily dose), and anticonvulsant properties at a dose of 2.5 mg/kg (about 2 times the recommended human daily dose).
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Riluzole must not be used by women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
⚠️ Talk to your doctor before taking any medicine during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
Dosage Reference
⚠️ Reference ranges from official sources only. Consult your doctor for personalized dosing.
Side Effects & Interactions
Side Effects
No side-effect data recorded yet.