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Rilutek | Other Drugs | Assistive Equipment & Lifestyle Changes | Assessment of Condition
Currently, there is no cure for ALS, and treatment is limited to one FDA-approved drug, which provides only minimal effects. In part, new drugs are continuously being tested for an efficient treatment, but in the meantime, treatment for patients largely resides in the relieving of symptoms and improving the quality of life through helpful devices and the work of doctors and therapists. Those taking care of an ALS patient will know, with the help of functional rating scales, if treatment or therapy is helping at all.
Available since 1996 and now produced by Aventis Pharmaceuticals, Rilutek� is the only FDA-approved drug for ALS. Rilutek� can extend life for several months, being more beneficial to patients if taken earliest as possible. The drug is believed to control the release of glutamate, playing a role in preventing excitotoxicity. It is slightly more effective for bulbar-onset ALS than limb-onset ALS, but this effectiveness seems very slight, especially compared to the cost of the drug, which can be over $600 a month. Patients received new hope, though, when in 2000 Congress waived the two-year waiting period for Medicare coverage, providing some financial relief in treatment costs.
Besides Rilutek�, there are other drugs under study that might benefit patients. Some are taken by patients with Rilutek� in hopes of increasing their chances of survival, or simply to relieve symptoms.
Celebrex� (Celecoxib): Used in the treatment of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and pain, Celebrex� might help in preventing excess glutamate.
Co-Enzyme Q10: A non-prescription dietary supplement that is also an antioxidant, which protects against free radical damage, especially those occurring in the mitochondria.
Creatine: Creatine is a natural substance in our bodies and can be bought in stores and taken to enhance strength and build muscle, especially popular among athletes and body-builders. Researchers are unsure what the long-term benefits of creatine are, but it may be possible to use this substance to strengthen weakened muscles in patients.
Neurodex�: Used in treatment to relieve uncontrollable periods of laughing or crying.
Nolvadex� (Tamoxifen): FDA-approved in the treatment for breast cancer, studies are being conducted to see whether Nolvadex� can decrease PKC activity in the spinal cord, which can lead to inflammation.
These are of no effect the entire list of drugs currently researched and tested across the world, and are by no means, what every patient would find right to take. It is normal that a person may not take any of the above drugs or supplements, whether for treatment costs or other reasons.
To make life easier for patients, a variety of assistive equipment and changes in home and lifestyle is usually much needed, especially towards the later stages of ALS.
ALS Functional Rating Scale: Developed by the WFN in 1996, the ALS Functional Rating Scale is a scorecard for assessing a patient's condition by looking at aspects such as swallowing, speaking, movement, etc. There are ten items, with scores from 0 to 4, with 4 being normal and 0 being unable to perform.
For the ALS Functional Rating Scale, click here.
Appel ALS Rating Scale: Based on much of the same aspects as the scale created by WFN, Appel's scale uses a composite score to predict survival time in patients.
Though successful treatment for ALS is not yet available, help is. Patients experience close connections with their caregivers, family members, doctors, as well as therapists, hospice nurses, and persons involved in their care. Knowing that there are people supporting them can greatly lessen the burden of facing ALS on one's own.