Riluzole is a prescription medication primarily used to treat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
It works by decreasing the release of glutamate in the brain and spinal cord, which can help slow disease progression and extend a patient’s life by several months.
Works by reducing glutamate release in the nervous system, which is thought to slow the damage to motor neurons.
Riluzole does not reverse or cure ALS, but has been shown to modestly extend survival, by a few months, on average.
Drug Class: Benzothiazole Names: Rilutek (tablet), Tiglutik (liquid suspension), Exservan/Emylif (oral film).
Standard Dosage: Typically taken as 50 mg by mouth twice daily (every 12 hours).
Administration: For best results, it should be taken on an empty stomach—at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal.
Generally well-tolerated, riluzole can cause some common and potentially serious side effects.
Common: Nausea, fatigue, changes in taste, dizziness, or numbness inside the mouth.
Common side effects include nausea, fatigue, dizziness, and elevated liver enzymes — liver function is usually monitored with blood tests
Liver Function: riluzole can cause liver enzyme elevations,
It may temporarily lower white blood cell counts, which can increase the risk of infections.
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