Riluzole

Riluzole (Rilutek) is a drug used to treat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and is marketed by Sanofi Pharmaceuticals. It delays the onset of ventilator-dependence or tracheostomy in selected patients and may increase survival by approximately two to three months.

Medical use

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

There has been some evidence to show that higher doses might produce more significant improvements in ALS patients but at almost £6 (US$10) per tablet it is at risk of being prohibitively expensive given the modest benefit to patients. One study in the Netherlands found that riluzole is metabolized differently by males and females, and its levels in plasma are decreased in patients who smoke cigarettes or take omeprazole. A Cochrane Library review states a 9% gain in the probability of surviving one year.

Psychiatric use

A number of recent case studies have indicated that riluzole may have clinical use in mood and anxiety disorders. It has been shown to have antidepressant properties in the treatment of refractory depression and act as an anxiolytic in obsessive-compulsive disorder and in GAD.