Equipping People To Make Sense Of What They Are Told
Riluzole - Rilutek - Used to treat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. It delays the onset
of ventilator-dependence or tracheostomy in selected people and may increase survival
by approximately 3 to 5 months.
Riluzole preferentially blocks TTX sensitive sodium channels, which are associated
with damaged neurons.1 This reduces influx of calcium ions and indirectly prevents
stimulation of glutamate receptors. Together with direct glutamate receptor blockade,
the effect of the neurotransmitter glutamate on motor neurons is greatly reduced.
